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Bathroom remodeling is a complex process. In addition to technological subtleties, there is also a problem with design. Bathtubs, toilets, combined bathrooms are usually tiled. But how to plan its placement on the walls so that the finish is beautiful? For those who decide to do the repair themselves, there is a good way out – to use the software. There are special programs for laying out tiles, there are such sections in general construction or design software, and there is also an online service from large manufacturers and stores selling finishing materials. About them and will be discussed further.
Tile 6.0
A specialized program for laying out tiles and wallpapers. There are three versions: Home for home use, Profi – for professionals, Profi + Render – professional with advanced functionality. For independent design creation, Kafel 6.0 Home is suitable, but it is not free – 1000 rubles per month of use. All of them can be purchased on the campaign site tile3D.com. Naturally, there are hacked copies, but it is difficult to say how safe it is to download them.
The current version of the program is good: even a truncated home version allows you to create three-dimensional projects (3D) and get calculations for the necessary materials (in addition to whole and cut tiles, it counts the amount of glue and grout for joints). What else can she do?
- Take into account door and window openings, columns, arches and other curved surfaces.
- It is possible to add new tiles to the directory, save them for future use.
- Tiles can be installed and moved at any angle.
- You can add XNUMXD images of other objects (bath, shower, etc.) by specifying their coordinates.
- The program calculates tiles and consumables, but in the “home” version you cannot print them, but you can write off the screen or take a screenshot and print as an image, not a table.
In addition, you can change the degree of illumination, gloss and relief of the tile. All these settings can be done for each individual object. Another good thing is that the site has tutorials on working with the program, where the creation of a project is described step by step. It is easy to work in the program, the interface is clear, mastered from the first time. Of the shortcomings of the home version – you can not get a scan on the walls, which is quite inconvenient. In general, the program is good, but not free.
ViSoft Premium
This is a specialized bathroom design software for professionals. One of the functions is tile layout. The database contains a large number of samples – almost 39 thousand types of tiles from different manufacturers (at the time of this writing, there are 362 of them). The layout project is developed on the basis of samples that are in the database; new ones cannot be made.
Here is a summary of the features of the program:
- The selected tile samples are automatically placed on the specified area.
- It is possible to view other layout options.
- To create a bathroom interior, you can choose plumbing from a huge database. In this case, the sets are generated automatically. If necessary, they can be corrected.
- During the creation process, the project can be deployed in any direction, evaluating the result from different points.
- Take snapshots of the result.
There are two modes of operation: drawing and sketch. Drawing mode creates a black-and-white image, which can later be “filled” with different colors. Sketch mode – immediately with color.
Ceramic 3D
Good professional bathroom design software. Naturally, it is not free, but there is a demo version with full functionality, which is available to everyone without payment. The free license is valid for 1 month. If you decide to make the layout of the tiles for yourself, this is a good option, but you must meet the deadline.
Ceramic 3D allows you to quickly create projects: each operation takes about 2-4 seconds. So simple projects are “built” in 5 minutes, complex ones take 15-20 minutes. Here is the feature set:
- creation of premises of any configuration according to the exact dimensions, including attic rooms;
- easy drawing of niches, shelves, ledges, boxes of any configuration;
- the ability to create a tile outline of any shape (polygonal, rounded, etc.);
- drawing columns and their finishes;
- saving laying patterns of any complexity;
- replacement of the contours and dimensions of the room while maintaining the layout;
- the possibility of creating stairs and their decoration with tiles;
- automatic calculation of the number of tiles.
In general, Ceramic 3D is not only a tile layout program. In it, you can create the overall design of the bathroom and work out the design of other elements or parts of the room that involve laying tiles. It’s nice that detailed lessons are attached to the program, with which it is easy to master.
Compass-3D LT
This is a free version of a professional program for three-dimensional design of various objects and parts, created by the Russian company ASCON. So it’s not just a tile layout program. This is just one small part of it. The Compass-3D LT version is an introductory version, it allows you to master volumetric modeling and planning. Complete with the program are training materials – video and graphic examples.
Compass 3D in the light version has a very limited functionality, but it is more than enough for laying out tiles. To plan the layout of the tiles during installation, a package with a building configuration is loaded (there is also a machine-building one). The base and build package will require about 3,5 GB of disk space.
With this program you can:
- make a site plan;
- develop a room design using various finishing materials and evaluate the result in the form of a three-dimensional picture;
- develop unique decor items and get their drawings;
- after completion of the project, receive drawings with dimensions.
In general, the program is multifunctional even in the free version. At the same time, you can learn the basics of designing in 3D.
A simple program for laying tiles without special effects – Arculator 7
If you do not need a three-dimensional image, but you need to look at the layout, and even calculate the amount of material without errors, pay attention to the Arculator 7 program. It is designed to calculate materials for interior finishing work. That is, with its help, you can accurately determine the required amount of tiles, wallpaper, laminate, etc. It is also possible to calculate the amount of materials for ventilated facades. Pleasant surprise: this tile layout software (and more) is free.
What can be done in it:
- Create surfaces of any size and shape, expose openings of any shape on them.
- The position of the tiles can be adjusted, deployed at any angle.
- On the same surface, objects of different sizes can be located in different directions.
Learning not to work is not a problem even for not the most “advanced” user. The interface is clear, the requirements for the computer are very modest, it takes less than 1 MB on the disk. A great option if you only need a layout, and not a design development with the arrangement of plumbing, furniture, etc.
What else can you work with?
In addition to specialized programs, there are many software designed for planning other objects, but in which there are sections for tile layout. If you have experience in one of them, it will be easier to work with a familiar interface than to master a new one. Here are some general building or furniture programs in which you can draw tiles.
- AvtoCad (AutoCad) is a general construction program with wide functionality (there are 2D and 3D).
- NanoCad is an analogue of the one described above, but the development is Russian. The basic version is free.
- PRO100 (PRO100). The program is designed for the development of furniture, but there is a solid section for designing the layout of tiles, laminate, wallpaper. Many people say that it is easier to work in it than in AutoCAD.
- SketchUp is a program for designing rooms and furniture, there is a section for tiles, but the functionality is small and difficult to work with. In addition, you have to manually recalculate the quantity, since errors in the calculations are not uncommon.
Of course, this is not specialized software and it is not so convenient to work with them. But if you have already worked in them in other sections, it will be easier and faster to figure it out than learning to design in a new program.
Online tile laying programs
Most large online tile stores or manufacturers provide the opportunity to create your own project online for free. The peculiarity is that basically you can work only with those collections that are on the resource. You cannot enter your own data into such programs.
They work on the principle of browser games – you do not need to download and install them. You work through the browser on the campaign resource. The procedure for creating a project is standard: select or draw a plan of the room for which you need to create a tile layout, select a collection (from those that are on the site), then create a layout. Based on the results, a statement is usually formed: how many of which tiles are needed, you can also print or save the layout that you made in the form of a sweep along the walls.