Resources to Help You:

Capture- primarily known as a previs program, has some good drafting and allows SVG files to be imported to replace their symbols when you like.  Since the manual tends to underwrite, here is a list of tutorials I’ve created that help you work with Capture for drafting, paperwork, Eos, etc. If you are going through any of these tutorials and want something more, or notice they need updating- please feel free to contact me through the comments or the Contact Me portal on the website.  I’m committed to building resources to eliminate dependency on Vectorworks.

Import a PDF to Scale

Drafting in Capture- Build the Theater

Drafting in Capture- Hang and Focus

Drafting in Capture- Booms (vertical side positions)

Drafting in Capture- Making it Look Nice

Drafting in Capture- Paperwork (built in)

Capture to Lightwright- exporting

Lightwright to Capture- importing

Capture to Eos

Importing SVGs into Capture

Capture Eos Link– Patch

Capture Labels

My Take

Those of us who “owned” our license from Vectorworks have been feeling the pressure lately.  They’ve increased financial pressure to force us to join their mediocre subscription model.  I was facing this decision myself- do I stick with VSS and take the higher pricing or do I go with the subscription model, which is wrong on so many levels.  It took me a long time to make up my mind because I wasn’t considering the best option: Do Neither.

I’ve decided to neither subscribe nor continue VSS.  You may have noticed over the years my tutorials on drafting in Capture.  Since it’s native 3D, I find it faster to construct a project in it.  And since I put in some time during lockdown, I know that you can get it to do some pretty good drafting work.  It’s still a little weak in paperwork (in my opinion), so please join me in politely asking Lightwright to support Capture directly!  Capture is more than sufficient for about 90% of the projects I do.  So what about the other 10%?

Well, I’m lucky in that my VSS is ending on November 30, so I have VW 2026.  This should easily get me through the next two years if not more.  My current plan— assuming no disruptor in the industry comes by to challenge VW’s stranglehold on the industry— is to just rent the license a month at a time for the projects that need it.  And since really only the largest projects still require it— I don’t see that as being a common thing.

Please fill in any request for a tutorial in the comments and I’ll get to it as soon as I can!

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Mark LaPierre is a programmer in film, television, and theater based out of Albuquerque.  He grew up in live entertainment and has been a designer/programmer for musicals, concert dance, live music, circus, and corporate.  Mark is a proud member of IATSE, an ETC Eos trainer, and an enthusiastic trainer of many other platforms and subjects.  30-minute as well as a full range of training in person.  If you enjoy his content, please consider commenting on his posts on the website to appease the Algorithm.