Configura releases CET Designer® 2.5
November 22, 2010
Software and Extensions are used by Steelcase, Haworth, Teknion, Spacefile and Mepal dealers, with Extensions underway for KI, Inscape and Aurora Storage Products
CET Designer® Version 2.5 launched with enhancements that improve the software’s speed and functionality. Major improvements include:
- Enhanced scheme handling
- Reworked lighting and rendering options
- Enhanced calculation features and functionality
- Ability to create custom panoramic backgrounds
- Enhanced positioning and placement of objects
- Improved support for CAD import
- Google SketchUp™ 8 support
- Faster 2D graphics
CET Designer 2.5 is a free upgrade for users.
“I just started using the latest version and I see big new improvements!” said Juan Melendez, RGO Office Products/Office Environments, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Schemes can now be saved to a network location as well as the user’s computer, enabling users to share their projects’ schemes with other designers and create palettes and standards for dealer-wide use.
The Rendering dialog box has undergone a larger update and now offers detailed control of different settings as well as the ability to save different light setups to adjust lighting and shadow levels with greater accuracy.
The Calculation dialog now offers better sorting and searching, which allows the user to create custom views and sort the Bill of Materials in many different ways.
Users can now add their own panoramic backgrounds to designs and can manipulate backgrounds more easily to create personalized and realistic backgrounds for their designs.
“All of these changes help our users to produce even better proposals for their clients – from incredibly realistic renderings and videos to highly detailed, accurate bills of materials and installation documents – all of which can be generated and shared in a few clicks,” said Configura Training and Support Manager Tracy Lanning.
Configura works closely with users to make improvements and test the software in order to ensure a solution that truly meets users’ needs.
The recent 3rd annual CET Designer User Conference in Las Vegas served not only as a learning and networking experience for users but also the opportunity for Configura to hear first-hand what users want and need from the software. Plans are underway for the 4th annual conference, to be held in fall 2011. Dates will be announced soon.
Information on CET Designer Academy training opportunities are at http://www.configura.com/cet/training.
Releasing soon in beta will be an improved Reconfiguration tool and enhanced Specials. The reconfiguration tool will simplify the reconfiguration process by determining product that is reused, left-over and needed to be ordered. The specials tool will allow graphical editing of standard products to special sizes and specifications.
“I’ve been testing the beta version, using it to put together a large project,” said Erin Valladares, Workplace Furnishings, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. “The load is fast and working efficiently. Real-time 3D Specials manipulation is simple to use – I no longer have to build 3D blocks of Specials in CAD and import them. This saves on file memory and quickens loading speed. The best part is that Specials can now be accounted for when I sif-out my project.”
Best of NeoCon Gold Award-Winning CET Designer is a complete software solution that supports and simplifies the entire sales, design and order process. The software makes it easy, fast and reliable to produce proposals, product specifications and visualizations without relying on AutoCAD, although the software easily integrates with AutoCAD.
CET Designer Manufacturer Extensions with smart, rules-based product symbols include:
- Haworth’s Canvas Extension
- Spacefile’s SpaceTools Extension
- Steelcase’s SmartTools Extension
- Teknion’s Storyboard Extension
- Mepal’s iMAGINA Extension
Another Extension developed in collaboration with ProjectMatrix – the ProjectSymbols Extension – includes symbols representing more than 80 percent of office furniture industry products, making CET Designer a complete design, rendering and ordering specification tool.
In addition, CET Designer offers users these free Extensions:
Revit® Extension
CET Designer’s free Revit® Extension serves as a connection between CET Designer and its manufacturer Extensions and integrates the software for seamless collaboration among architects, dealers and furniture manufacturers using BIM for planning and design.
Google SketchUp™
CET Designer’s free Google SketchUp™ Extension lets users choose from a huge library of Google objects that can be added to CET drawings for more realistic renderings.
CET Movie Studio
CET Designer’s free CET Movie Studio Extension enables users to create, edit and save movies in CET Designer so they can give their clients a virtual, 3D, fly-thru experience of their space.
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