Vectorworks and Morpholio Join Forces

Imagine a seamless fusion of precision drafting and modeling tools with intuitive sketching capabilities, where ideas flow effortlessly from concept to realization. That's the promise of the Vectorworks and Morpholio partnership — a marriage designed to empower you at every stage of the design process.

In this article, you’ll read through the recommended workflow between the two programs and find some tips and tricks to improve your designs.

Be aware that the workflow between Vectorworks and Morpholio Trace is only possible if you have an iPad. Morpholio Trace mimics pencil and paper; importing your Vectorworks model into Morpholio Trace allows you to freely sketch atop it on your iPad.

Morpholio Trace serves as an excellent option for creating stunning imagery of your Vectorworks project. The following scenario illustrates an effective use of the application alongside Vectorworks.

1. You’re designing a site for your client. You decide to create simple massing models in Vectorworks to show intended forms for the site’s buildings.
2. You want to show the client your ideas, but don’t want to spend time detailing the massing model in Vectorworks yet. For now, speed is your goal.
3. You import the Vectorworks massing model into Morpholio Trace and, on your iPad, sketch over the massing models to achieve your preferred style. You also sketch over areas of the site to indicate planting areas.
4. You navigate around in Morpholio Trace to get your favorite view on screen, then capture an image to send to the client.

Ultimately, Morpholio Trace provides a way to maintain your artistic hand drawing style with a more effective and efficient workflow that coincides with your production software.

Now, let’s talk about the workflow.

Use Vectorworks to create your drawing or model. There’s so much to discuss when it comes to creating in Vectorworks — but that’s beyond the scope of this article. If you’re new to Vectorworks, start your free trial here and visit Vectorworks University to get acquainted with 3D modeling.

Bonus Tip – Maintain an organized file structure in Vectorworks. This allows you to easily keep track of your project and the edits you make in Morpholio Trace. Read more about improving your Vectorworks file organization here.

Once you have a design that you want to draw over, export it to a format compatible with Morpholio Trace. Common options for 3D models include OBJ and STL. JPG or PDF are also valid formats if you’re exporting 2D imagery.

Consider the complexity of your model. You may want to simplify it for more effective performance in Morpholio Trace. If you have a fully fleshed-out BIM model, for example, you’re best served exporting only the classes and layers that comprise the model’s visuals.

Bonus Tip: You can connect to Vectorworks Cloud Services with the Apple files app to keep your files synced. This means you can reference your Morpholio sketches directly into Vectorworks and keep them updated as you iterate in Morpholio.

Importing into Morpholio Trace opens a world of creative possibilities. The program's powerful tools in sketching, tracing, and annotation allow you to infuse your designs with an artistic touch.

You can elevate your work with features such as perspective overlays, a wide range of line types, and an array of entourage options. These elements serve as the secret ingredients that can truly set your design apart and leave a lasting impression on both your collaborators and clients.

Bonus Tip: You can use Morpholio Trace at various stages of your design process. Consider using the application to refine early conceptual models to share with clients. Then, as you add more detail to the project in Vectorworks, you can export again to draw over later versions in Morpholio Trace.

With Morpholio Trace, you can effortlessly make quick edits and create visually appealing hand sketches. The application grants you the freedom to experiment and fine-tune your drawings until they meet your satisfaction. With more use, you’ll develop certain preferences for how to use the tool. Eventually, you’ll have a signature style that you keep coming back to.

Note that Morpholio Trace is scale aware. As you iterate, you can rest assured that your work properly aligns with the scale of your Vectorworks model. This makes it possible to quickly calculate areas, for example, if you wanted to include a quick-sketched annotation in Morpholio Trace.