Vectorworks 2025 has landed, and with it comes a whole bunch of cool updates, from enhanced modelling tools to performance enhancements and so much more. So, let’s dive into the latest release from Vectorworks.
What is Vectorworks?
Vectorworks is a leading design software company with several software packages: Architect for architecture projects, Landsmark for landscapers, and Spotlight for entertainment. Additionally, they have Design Suite, which encompasses all three. For those new to CAD design, they have Fundamentals, which has some very basic tools to help them get to grips with designing.
The 2025 release brings valuable improvements across the board, focusing on efficiency, flexibility, and visual clarity.
Enhanced Designing Tools
The 2D and 3D modelling tools in Vectorworks 2025 get some cool new updates, designed to make design work faster and more precise. Whether working in architecture or entertainment, these changes provide better control and visibility in the modelling process.
Key Features:
- Two-Point Perspective: Quickly create traditional architectural views, staying active through all view changes. This feature adds clarity to complex 3D designs, making your workflow smoother.
- Onscreen View Control: One-click navigation for instant access to different views. With interactive orbiting and visual guides like compass and XYZ axes, adjusting your model’s perspective is quick and easy.
- Object-Level Visibility: Control the visibility of individual objects, making it easier to focus on specific details without losing sight of the whole project.
- Room Finish Management: This tool allows you to apply finishes to multiple walls and surfaces and manage them easily within the project. It makes large-scale finish management quicker and more organised.
- Countertop Upgrade: This tool helps you to create finely detailed countertops and easily achieve quality visuals and reports. Manage countertops across projects with customisable styles and get better control over design features like overhangs, backsplashes and hole-cutting (Architect, Spotlight, Landscape and Design Suite only).
- Curbs, Edging, and Borders: Design accurate curbs, borders, and edging elements based on profile extrudes or individual unit placement. (Architect, Landscape and Design Suite only)
Better Workflows and Collaboration
Vectorworks 2025 makes it easier to work across multiple software packages, as well as collaborate with stakeholders to gain new ideas and get sign off faster.
Notable Workflow Updates:
- Project Sharing: With Vectorworks Project Sharing, you can choose whether you want to use cloud-, network-, or server-based sharing. Shared project files can be worked on and stored on any cloud service and backups are automatically saved as offline files for your convenience. (Architect, Spotlight, Landscape and Design Suite only)
- Revit Collaboration: Enhanced support for Revit files allows smoother collaboration across platforms, with the option to process files in the cloud while continuing your work locally (Architect, Spotlight, Landscape and Design Suite only).
- DXF/DWG Collaboration: Save time with high-quality DXF/DWG collaboration, bringing you detailed and flexible control of both incoming and outgoing file structure and graphics to achieve accurate delivery the first time, every time.
- Migration Manager: With advanced options in the Migration Manager, you can make a smooth transition between Vectorworks versions. Custom settings can be converted from up to five previous versions, saving you time each time you upgrade.
- Workspace Editor: Customise and share workspaces between teammates within an easy, intuitive interface. You’ll find superior functionalities like the ability to select multiple tools and commands, drag-and-drop capabilities, a search bar, and a quick way to change keyboard shortcuts, all designed to save you time when creating and managing workspaces.
- Cloud Document Reviewer: Collaborate easily by sharing project documents online for review and comments, speeding up project reviews and feedback cycles.
Improved BIM Functionality
Vectorworks 2025 strengthens its Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools, simplifying the management of complex data and projects. These updates are designed to make workflows more efficient, particularly for larger projects.
Notable BIM Updates:
- Automated BIM Data Assignment: Save time with automated data handling for your models, reducing manual input and minimising errors.
- Data Tags: Data Tags recognise objects and object sub-parts. Choose from clockwise or counterclockwise auto-numbering options and define dynamic text with worksheet-style formulas. Fine-tune text layout down to the superscript level to meet exact international annotation and dimension standards. (Architect, Spotlight, Landscape and Design Suite only)
- Dimension Unit Settings: You can set Custom Unit settings, including bespoke units, unit marks, rounding style, and rounding precision, with freedom and flexibility. You can achieve drawing compliance in a wide variety of scenarios for individual dimensions as desired or as required by local jurisdictions, and you can easily transfer Custom Unit settings between documents.
New Rendering and Visualisation Features
Rendering and visualisation tools receive key improvements, offering better visual quality and faster feedback. These updates benefit professionals who rely on realistic renders and efficient lighting setups.
Highlights:
- Improved Rendering Engine: New options for lighting, materials, and environmental settings enhance the visual quality of your designs, creating realistic renders for presentations.
- Hidden Line Render: The Clip Cube now supports Hidden Line and Dashed Hidden Line render modes, giving you greater control over your visual output without the need for complex setup.
- Showcase Previz Mode: For entertainment professionals, the real-time previsualisation tool enables you to test lighting setups and scenic designs directly within Vectorworks, avoiding the need for external software (Showcase and Design Suite only).
Performance and Efficiency Enhancements
Vectorworks 2025 introduces performance improvements aimed at making day-to-day work smoother and more efficient. These updates focus on speeding up file handling and improving system responsiveness.
Key Improvements:
- Faster File Handling: Large files now load and save more quickly, allowing you to focus on design rather than waiting for files to process.
- Smoother Navigation: Moving through models and changing views is more responsive, reducing interruptions in your workflow.
These enhancements improve overall productivity, allowing professionals to speed up their workflows.
Learning Vectorworks 2025
Getting up-to-date with the latest features can help you improve your workflows and get better results. Vectorworks has helped by putting together some helpful videos on their Youtube channels and are hosting some greate events to get you up to speed.
Starting off with the Live Events, Vectorworks is hosting their Design Day event in London on the 1st October 2024. Plus in-person training in Newbury.
There’s also a lot of webinars booked in for the rest of the month:
- 12 September 2024: Intro to Showcase
- 19 September 2024: Curbs, Edging and Borders
- 26 September 2024: Countertops
- 03 October 2024: Cable Tools
- 10 October 2024: Advanced Showcase Features
- 17 October 2024: Hardscapes & Landscape Areas
You can book onto these sessions on the Vectorworks website. Can’t make them? Keep an eye on the Vectorworks blog for more webinars.
For On-Demand training, the Vectorworks YouTube Channel has a fantastic set of videos around Vectorworks 2025, and they regularly add additional videos on various topics, from incredibly niche videos to much broader videos. Finally, Vectorworks University is a treasure trove of courses, webinars and videos to help you get up to speed quickly.
Conclusion
Vectorworks 2025 offers practical upgrades across its core tools, from 3D modelling to BIM and rendering. The improvements in performance and functionality are designed to help you work faster and with greater precision. Whether you’re an architect, landscape designer, or working in the entertainment industry, the 2025 release brings a host of benefits that can enhance your design process.
Buy Vectorworks from CAD Software Direct today or contact us for more information.