Live Interior 3D 2.1.1

May, 2009

Manufacturer: BeLight Software
Version: 2.1.1

Overall Rating
Features & Tools
Ease of UseLook & Feel
Help & Support

Are you curious to see how a new paint color would look in your kitchen? How about that snazzy leather sofa you saw in that magazine? Will it fit in your family room? Maybe you're building a new house and want to create an interior design before you actually move in. Live Interior 3D by BeLight Software is the interior design software program to use if you're working on a Mac.

Standout features:

• Integrated access to Google's 3D Warehouse for a virtually unlimited database of objects
• Compatible with Google SketchUp
• Shoot a QuickTime video of a virtual walkthrough of the project
• Create 360° panorama views of the project
• Material Editor edits surface materials
• Multi-story support (max is 2 in Standard and unlimited in Pro version)
• Adjustable lighting—color and time of day
• Selection of room templates

Live Interior 3D Screenshot

Live Interior 3D Screenshot

Features & Tools:

Whether you're dreaming based solely on a blueprint or considering sprucing up an existing room. Live Interior 3D comes packed with features and tools that will help you draw a floor plan, experiment with different colors, textures and furnishings and even “shoot” a QuickTime movie walking through your completed design.

One of our favorite features is the integration with Google's 3D Warehouse. While it may seem like the software comes with a rather small number of included furnishings, in actuality the practically limitless resources of the 3D Warehouse guarantees you'll be able to find the right styles and kinds of objects for your design scheme. You can even populate your rooms with 2D or 3D people, pets and autos for a more realistic experience.

Once you have your home/room designed just the way you want, you can create a QuickTime movie walkthrough to show your spouse, architect, interior designer or client. No worries about moving too quickly or creating erratic camera movements. Live Interior 3D interior design software allows you to set up cameras along the route you want to take and tweak their placement until you're happy with the results.

We'd really like to see the ability to generate basic electrical, HVAC and plumbing schemes especially in the Pro version since it's geared towards the expert user who is likely using product this in a business.

Ease of Use:

Live Interior 3D interior design software is remarkably easy to use. The developers have leveraged the Mac's intuitive interface to create a polished software package that won't intimidate even the most novice of users. If you click and drag a window or wall segment the software automatically adjusts and redraws the element to reflect the change. There are, however, still some tweaks that need to happen here in order to maintain structural integrity.

Minor drawbacks we found were the 3D navigation is a little tricky to get the hang of and we were unable to find a way to adjust the speed of walking other than changing the rendering speed which didn't really help as much as we'd have liked. It wasn't a big deal overall because after using the software for a while, the navigation became much easier to manage, however we would like to see click-and-drag control of the viewing aspect in 2D (floor plan) mode. It would make it easier and faster to change locations in the design.

Look & Feel:

In this version of Live Interior 3D, BeLight developers have given the interface a really nice overhaul. The look and feel of the software improved greatly which certainly enhances the user's experience. The views are organized and polished and the icons are easily understandable.

Help & Support:

BeLight Software provides extensive help for both technical issues as well as tutorials to guide the user through creating various types of projects.

Technical support is handled via email, FAQ pages, online chat, online and printed user manuals and an in-program searchable help. The web site also features some articles and videos that are helpful and provide some inspiration.

The help varies from video tutorials on the web site and in the software to community forums, a project gallery, newsletter and an online knowledge base. The in-program tutorials and help are well-written and clear.

Summary:

If you're looking for a great interior design software package for the Mac platform, Live Interior 3D is an excellent solution. Its integration with Google's 3D Warehouse and user-friendly interface make it a solid option for the homeowner and the Pro version is an excellent fit for the professional designer. If you're looking to design your dream home from the ground up be sure to read our Home Design Software reviews as well as the Landscaping Software reviews.

See other reviews...