From the series "Software, tools for the architect - trends 2025"
ZWCAD is an excellent alternative to the well-known CAD program, and its main advantage is that it supports popular drawing files, including DWG and DXF, so you can work seamlessly with various design offices without having to perform file conversions. The final design can be published to PDF and emailed or printed on a physical printer/plotter. The application has a friendly and intuitive interface, both ribbon and classic, which can still be customized. There are two commercial versions standard and professional with 3D support. ZWCAD is available in more than a dozen language versions including, of course, Polish, English, Italian, German and many others, which also makes it a popular choice for foreign users due to its affordable price.
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Functionality and new features
The latest version of ZWCAD 2025 provides many useful features and improvements.
One of them is the creation of projections from a 3D model, and the WIDOKPODST function is used for this. The projections can be created in an extremely simple way, indicate the solid and specify the projection directions. The created views are associated with the source model, so that making some modification will update the views.
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The STEPIMPORTfunction allows you to import commonly used models in CAD software in STEP format, and both AP203 and AP214 versions.
New visualization methods. Added cube- ViewCube navigation allows easy viewing and changing of 2D and 3D views.
Animation - navigating through the ViewCube
New ways of visualization allow multiple ways of shading in 3D.
Additional handles in the 3D view allow for convenient navigation of solids.
Support for GeoTiffs in our program greatly expands the possibilities and makes it easier to connect geolocated maps, as an additional positioning file is no longer needed. Inserting a map into a drawing allows you to automatically, properly position it based on the coordinates contained in the GeoTIFF file, and thanks to built-in hardware acceleration, using the graphics card's hardware acceleration, you can easily and smoothly navigate in the program, even with a large number of connected maps and other objects, which is also highly appreciated by users.
BIM file import. IFC files are a popular format for exchanging BIM data. The IFCIMPORT command allows loading such a file into ZWCAD, and on an additional panel we have access to the BIM information contained in each model element.
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Point cloud support allows us to import a set of several million points of localized space in various formats: RCS, RCP, E57, LAS, LAZ, PTS and work with them.
Point clouds in GIS are one of the data sources used to create a numerical terrain model, which reflect the three-dimensional shape. They are usually obtained from either 3D scanners or photogrammetry software that measures a large number of points in an area.
Among other things, a point cloud can be cropped to a specific area in ZWCAD, sectioned with a plane, extract a section line, use cutting planes to accurately visualize the section, or map colors by elevation. Thanks to hardware acceleration and OpenGL support, working, even with a large set of points, is smooth.
Raster vectorization allows you to convert raster images to vector form. The available VECTORIZATION command in ZWCAD 2025 has a limitation of conversion to a raster size of 2048 by 2048 pixels, but by installing the already commercial version of the ZWVectorization overlay , it is possible to convert an image up to 20,000 by 20,000 pixels. In addition, you gain additional tools such as text recognition-OCR, editing of objects after conversion by merging and interleaving, and it is possible to select the target layer.
Flexible licensing
A perpetual license with voluntary updates is available, so you don't need to renew the license every year, as you might encounter in other subscription-based programs. Once activated, you don't need to have permanent Internet access and can work anywhere - a definite advantage. The license can be transferred between computers as needed, and after returning the license, you can activate it even in another location, which is made possible by a license secured by a program code. Optionally, you can get a USB key on which the license is located and conveniently transfer the license, although it must be admitted that fewer and fewer users are opting for such a solution due to the additional physical device that must be plugged into the USB port during operation.
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Network license- most often multi-user, on the other hand, gives great opportunities, because placed on one of the computers, it automatically manages the licenses, which allows you to significantly reduce the costs associated with the purchase of software, since very often, not all the designers available in the office, at the same time use the program. Such a license is available from a single workstation and allows dynamic switching of licenses when the program is started and closed. ZWCAD can be installed on all computers in the office and, thanks to the network license, alternate work is possible. It is also possible to rent a license for a specific period of time, for offline work. Such an option is particularly useful when you need to work outside the office, e.g. during a business trip, or there is concern about a stable connection to the network license server outside the office, e.g. when working on a construction site.
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Test version - check the program while you work
You can download the program now and work with full functionality for 30 days, with the possibility of extension, to test the capabilities of the latest version of ZWCAD 2025 on your own projects, in your environment. After this time, there is no need to remove the program, as it will work as a drawing viewer.
Training
After purchasing the program, the user receives free access to the training platform for three months with available materials, including videos, where the various functions are carefully and factually discussed by an experienced trainer who has conducted more than 200 training courses -over 1000 satisfied users-, which is also confirmed by a lot of positive comments on the platform. From the course, you can learn how to navigate in the program, learn useful keyboard shortcuts and aliases, learn many ways to create various objects, as well as learn precise drawing.
https://kursy.zwcad.pl/next/public/catalog
User support
Users receive unlimited-time, free technical support in case any difficulties arise. Technical support can be contacted in a number of ways, including talking to a physical advisor by phone, sending an email to pomoc@zwcad.pl with a description of the issue, or going to www.zwcad.pl and starting a chat with a specialist and getting the information you need right away.
An extensive knowledge base, as well as various tips, can also be found in the forum, where you can raise various issues: https://forum.cad.info.pl/
At this point, one should also not fail to mention the available ZWCAD Poland channel on the YouTube platform, where many instructional and useful videos are available.
Industry overlays
There are a number of industry overlays available for the program, which usually require a professional version containing a dedicated development environment to work, so you can extend the functionality even further. Our most popular overlays include: ZWTraffic- to support the creation of road signage with an extensive library of signs, ZWGeo- improves work with maps and points (import, export) including the ability to insert maps from WMS web servers and works with the GUGiK server, ZWToolbox- a set of useful tools for everyday work and many others. You can also use additional scripts in the form of LISPs often created by users themselves, where it is worth adding that most are provided free of charge.
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