What's New in HighDesign R8.1
Improved Windows support, image editing, drawing, dimensions and more.
We're excited to publish a new release of HighDesign! R8.1 is here and brings many important quality enhancements based on the feedback we've received from users.
In that regard, we want to thank all our users who took the time to write us about issues and suggested improvements and new features that would greatly improve the day-to-day experience. You contribute immensely not only to the quality of a product, but in the making of a dream, to build together a software fashioned after the actual needs and way of thinking of architecture designers. Thank you!
Now, let's dig in!
A Better Windows Experience
HighDesign for Windows continues to improve release after release. Our target is to offer as much as possible a seamless experience on both the Mac and Windows versions, while at the same time making the most out of the strengths of each platform.
We've greatly improved HighDesign for Windows by going through all the panels, windows, and tools to make sure everything is in its place, looks good and most importantly works in the same way as the macOS edition.
Special care was given to printing and PDF output, so that printouts and published PDF's can have the highest quality in the tiniest details, such as shape profiles, transparencies, file sizes, arcs and circles, texts, and more.
More quality for your drawings
Dimensions
When your project is nearing completion and you begin adding dimensions, your drawings can become cluttered very quickly. Backgrounds, walls, and other components must all be visible and often end up overlaid. Adding dimensions on top of a complex drawing can be challenging because the labels can become difficult to read.
In R8.1, we made your life easier by adding a new option for your dimensions. Dimension labels are now more readable thanks to an option for an opaque background, that increases the contrast in busy drawings.
Polylines + Offset
A versatile tool that is used in all sorts of designs in the Polyline. It allows the design of complex shapes made of straight and curved segments that are so often needed in CAD drawings. The combination of the polyline and the Offset tools create a very powerful combination.
Polylines are now easier to use and edit, and the Offset command applied to polylines handles more special cases and shapes.
Improved Tables & Schedules
Creating tables is now easier with the improvements to the new Table tool, that now handles more copy and paste across cells with more consistency and exports more readable CSV files.
Since tables are at the core of the Schedule tool, exporting and working with schedules is now easier and smoother.
Snapping, grids, and the Measure tool were also improved for a more streamlined experience.
Image Editing and Photogrammetry are now easier
You can now correct barrel distortion of images using the Barrel Distort filter in the Adjust Image tool, which is now also accessible via the Object Info and the Photogrammetry setup panel.
Speaking about Photogrammetry, the entire setup phase has been redesigned so that it is now easier to use and more flexible.
Again, thank you for your feedback and keep it coming! We are at work on new great features that will come later this year!
If you want to learn more about HighDesign R8.1, consider the following resources:
- What's new in HighDesign R8.1
- HighDesign R8.1 release notes
- Download HighDesign for macOS and Windows
- HighDesign Public Roadmap
HighDesign is the architectural design software that bridges CAD and BIM. For Mac and Windows.