Comments on: CAD vs CAD

By: CAD software compatibility in marker making

CAD software compatibility in marker making — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:52:56 +0000

[...] resist learning CAD 3D pattern CAD software CAD: PAD or TukaTech? (I ended up buying StyleCAD) CAD vs CAD addthis_pub = [...]

By: celeste

celeste — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 16:03:28 +0000

I don’t know why, but I had never considered Illustrator to be a CAD program, but I think that has more to do locally at the CC, that (auto)CAD is the drafting part and Illustrator classess was the graphics part of the dept. But I can see how CAD and CAD can become very confusing.

I do know people that draft in Illustrator, but their patterns aren’t used for commercial production. I can see how it totally wouldn’t work for that.
I think more people are trying to use design software for drafting becuase the software is more acessible. (especially price wise)

At least as long as I read your blog I’ll be well informed even if I’ll never get to apply it.

By: Kathleen Fasanella

Kathleen Fasanella — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:00:35 +0000

It is a completely viable and reasonable program to make patterns with

As I mentioned in my comment,

The inspiration for this particular entry was an individual who wanted a marker made from her Illustrator generated pattern. Impossible... My central point is, if your pattern maker isn’t using a medium that can be used by others farther downstream in the process...

Please keep context in mind. The debate in this entry was not whether Illustrator is an option for someone doing a one-off with more time than money; it was a commercial party hiring a service provider who was using non-standard tools to generate a product that failed to encompass necessary elements (seam allowance for one) that could not then be used by service providers downstream in the process. See CAD software compatibility in marker making which explains why. The biggest problem with using Illustrator is that it can't be used after that point which for most of us, is the whole point of having digital patterns. See: How to know if you need digital or paper patterns

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 07:10:16 +0000

Though this is a thought provoking argument and I agree that the expensive programs used for industrial pattern design are awesome….they are just not accessible for everyone who loves patterning and digs on designing patterns based off of the human form. I love Illustrator for pattern making! It is a completely viable and reasonable program to make patterns with…you just have to have faith in your skills a draftsman and capabilities as a measurer and grid layer of the human form. I think it would be a profound skill if every fashion student had to learn how to draft a garment pattern in basic vector programs. Talk about changing the current climate of the industry! People are amazing and so are their capabilities to use these currently thought of as ‘amateur’ programs to make their designs come to life. Where there’s a will, there’s a way and I believe in the power of bringing pattern production to accessible programs. Much love to all those who love fashion and drafting

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:14:11 +0000

Your points are well taken Francis. I believe I said as much in my entry:

Now, I will not deny that there are people who can draft in Illustrator, I’m sure there are. The issue is, how useful is it? Does this represent the best expenditure of your dollars? I would say probably not. The reason is your pattern -in effect, an illustration- can’t be exported into a computer aided drafting program for the purposes of grading and making markers. So like it or not, you will have to have the work redone in a drafting program…. Now, if it is true that your illustrator has spec’ed the design out properly to scale, your best option is to have it printed out and sent off for digitizing.

The inspiration for this particular entry was an individual who wanted a marker made from her Illustrator generated pattern. Impossible. She hired someone who claimed expertise they did not have. They had all the pieces nested inside each other, no seam allowances etc. My central point is, if your pattern maker isn’t using a medium that can be used by others farther downstream in the process, they likely aren’t the whiz bang authority they’ve convinced you they are.

By: Francis

Francis — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:23:52 +0000

Before Gerber and Lectra there was manual pattern drafting. A pattern is only as good as it’s pattern drafter. The program is only there to supplement that knowledge base. If one knows the proper rules of pattern drafting it could be argued that even a program like illustrator could be used to draft and in fact is more accurate than manual pattern drafting. It must of course be understood that the files are incompatible with current drafting software and would have to be digitized for computerized grading and marker making. That being said manual pattern drafting does as well and there are lots of small start ups who do it the old fashioned way with paper and pencil. Not everyone can afford to draft on a cad system. Just wanted to argue the flip side of the coin.

By: Kerryn

Kerryn — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:29:17 +0000

Wow, like Mary above I’m dumbfounded that people would even consider creating patterns in AI! However, I use AI regularly for flats and construction illustrations, and I import files from my CAD system to create print and embroidery schematics or illustrate pattern amendments to other Patternmakers.

By: Trish

Trish — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:22:56 +0000

I really have to make sure my students read this entry, just so they can see you talking about the way we have to view everything. Sometimes I think they feel that I am making this up!

By: Eric H

Eric H — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:04:08 +0000

To be clear, the problem is usually not mine. The problem is usually my mechanical engineer, who sometimes gets PDF files in place of DWG (AutoCAD) files. Metal parts are 3-dimensional, and as luck would have it, we sometimes want to bolt them to other parts that weren’t made to fit and so something has to get modified. People invariably leave critical dimensions off their paper and PDF drawings. The difference is that he can pull dimensions (**exact** dimensions) off the DWG files.

Patterns are engineering tools, not fashion illustrations.

By: aimee

aimee — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:39:13 +0000

just in skimming this article, i completely understand the dilemma and agree with you. i suppose unless you have credible work experience/knowledge behind you, perhaps you might not know the difference. i work for a full service apparel company. we do everything: from concept to design, to CAD (as in to show to buyers and also for tech paks), we do the specs, the labels and hangtags, right down to the bar codes and anything that has to do with delivery. we do not grade anything UNLESS we perform formulas in an excel worksheet (to go with the said technical sketch in illustrator). perhaps the best advice for people NOT using gerber or lectra, etc. is to have them learn their formulas in excel. it’s a wonderful tool that factories understand. and simply put, illustrator is great for many things, but certainly not marker making or grading.