What is BricsCAD Shape?
BricsCAD® Shape is the new conceptual modeling tool from Bricsys. It’s made to help architects and engineers streamline their 3D schematic design work. Shape is the fastest way to get designs out of your head and in front of your clients. It’s CAD-accurate, using a powerful direct modeling engine.
You can use it as a live presentation tool, too. Potentially best of all, Shape offers a clean, simple user interface that you can learn in 30 minutes or less.
BricsCAD Shape lets you create without limits
Shape’s smart modeling tools make it easy to capture in 3D. The multi-functional “Shape” tool can be used to create walls, slabs, structural elements and more. Direct modeling features let you drag, connect, push/pull and extrude as you like. Wall connections are automatically mitered for you.
BricsCAD Shape also offers everything you need to present your designs. It comes with a library of materials, textures and pre-built 3D components. You can use the included collection of doors and windows, or create your own custom versions easily. Make your model look the way you want using the Visual Styles panel in Shape.
How is BricsCAD Shape different from other tools?
First, BricsCAD Shape is CAD-accurate from the start. Under the simple UI is the same fast and proven parametric, 3D direct modeling engine that’s in BricsCAD Platinum. Shape creates solid models, stored in industry-standard DWG – just like BricsCAD® BIM.
Unlike competing products, Shape’s solid models are fully accurate – never approximated. Every element that you create in Shape can be modified deeply, anytime, on the fly. Your concept models open directly in BricsCAD BIM. You’ll never lose time starting over again. Make the smart move – directly from concept to BIM with BricsCAD Shape with no loss of detail.
BricsCAD Shape accelerates your BIM workflow
The Bricsys BIM workflow starts in 3D with Shape, and stays in 3D – speeding 2D construction documentation with the world’s best drafting tools. No breaks or transitions in your workflow, all in DWG, with a friendly, familiar user interface that you’ll appreciate. It won’t take long for you to be productive in BricsCAD Shape or BricsCAD BIM.
Stop sketching. Start shaping!
Get your free copy of BricsCAD Shape! BricsCAD Shape delivers the tools you need, and none that you don’t. Even the learning materials are clean and simple – check out “30 minutes to Shape” on YouTube.
hi There,
is BricsCAD Shape a 30 day Trial or is it FREE ?
(I can almost afford Free)
Thank You. I am retired with 30,000 hours of cad experience.
I need something To play with. This looks so awesome, already.
The 3d solids modeling is what I have been Looking for.
can You change the size of a solid model by changing The “dimensions”?
so much To Learn, & so few gray cells Left To work with.
I am doing some design work for a non-profit That is building Tiny Homes for our homeless Vets in Phoenix, AZ.
Take care.
Randy Sanders
Hi Randy,
Hope you’re enjoying BricsCAD Shape! The product is completely free, so you can use it as much and as long as you want.
When manipulating your model with the direct modelling tools supplied in Shape (such as bimdrag, extrude, push/pull, etc) you can enter exact dimensions.
Kind regards.
Any plans for a Linux version?
Hi Casey,
Yes, we also plan to release BricsCAD Shape on OSX and Linux.
Kind regards.
Do you have a time line for the Mac OSX release?
Hi Walter,
We’re planning to release the MacOS version of Shape very soon. It is in final testing now.
Whats the release date for linux versions?
It is in QA now… expecting release soon!
Hello Don, I am using Mac book since few years now comfortable with that and recently started BricsCAD trail version. Will shape also run smoothly on Mac especially M1 chips? I really don’t want to shift to Windows. Please help.
We recommend that you download BricsCAD and try it for yourself. If you have any problems send us a support request and we will do our best to help you as quickly as possible.
this product is FANTASTIC. thank you Bricsys for making it!!!!
Thank you for this lovely comment, Jon!
I installed it on a laptop (i7), but it is extremly slow. Even moving the mouse is slow. Drawing is not possible.
Hi Gertjan,
That shouldn’t be the case. Could you file a support request in the Shape category on our support page: https://www.bricsys.com/support/ ? Our technical team can help you figure what’s wrong.
Kind regards,
Lio
I seem to be having the same problem, sent a request to support.
Like it! Ability to use commands (and give support to novice dwg users) Ditch the horizon by default and make and option in the visual style to switch to 2D. Including a black background. Very good thing we now can work better together with SU boys and girls! Keep up the good work.
Hi,
Is it possible to manipulate Layers on a .dwg imported file?
Thanks
It looks like a good start but you will need to add pitched roof tools. This would be great for residential design!
Hey Steve – check this out: House model by Bogdan Sotingeanu on YouTube
Do you have a date for the release os the macOS version?
What are the import / export options?
Hey Mat, we’re working on the Mac version now. No hard date for release, but it will be soonest (we just shipped V18 for OS X this week). As far as Shape file options – you can read .dwg, .dxf and .dwt. You can import .skp. Shape saves as .dwg. -Don
Hi Bricsys Team,
How can i change the metrics in Bricscad Shape? After download it is Standard Imperial, but i want metric. Thanks for your respons. Kind regards Harold
Goede dag Harold,
When you create a new drawing in BricsCAD Shape, you’ll see the Units pull-down at the upper right of the Welcome screen.
You can choose inches, mm, cm or meters.
Thanks for trying BricsCAD Shape! -Don
Hello Don , Do you think we can use BricsCAD SHAPE in instead of Sketchup professionally???? Please help. After sketchup model ready we use Lumion to render it. Does Shape also need separate render steps. And will lumion support it????
If you wish to use BricsCAD Shape professionally, you can, there are no restrictions. However, you might find that BricsCAD BIM better fits your requirements. Lumion has a plug-in for BricsCAD Pro and above.
Hi just downloaded programme, but get a message ‘installation package couldn’t be opened. I’m running windows 7, any idea’s?
Hi Michael,
Please file a support request at https://www.bricsys.com/en-intl/support/#116 and we will help you as soon as possible.
thanx for this awesome software
We are glad to hear that mohmdnopy!
can i add new materials to bricscad shape or edit the size and color of the existing ones?
It is possible, but at this moment it requires some file editing on disk. To create/edit the materials a paying version of BricsCAD is required as well. The scale of the textures can be altered in the material properties when the dwg of the material is opened in BricsCAD. To add a new material you have to create the corresponding material dwg, thumbnail and texture files. Similar to changing the scale you can also edit other properties of the material in a paying version of BricsCAD.
Hello,
Can I import a dwg into shape?
Tom
Sure, Tom. Just open an existing dwg file.
Hello there.
I’m starting at BricsCAd Shape.
I need to know, is possible to export to google earth a 3D model?
Also, is possible to create animations? those with scenes around the model.
And export as video file?
Best regards.
Vicente Figna.
In V18 it is not possible to export files to another format, only dwg is available. In the upcoming V19 version export to FBX, STL, DAE, WMF and BMP was added. So a Shape model can be exported to FBX and imported in dedicated render software, such as Blender, where an animation can be created.
Hi,
is there a way to export files as STL from BricsCAD Shape?
Hi Jurgen,
STL output will be in BricsCAD Shape V19. Coming soon!
-Don
Great, thanks!
Just downloaded Shape. Used to doing 3D models in autocad over 2d plan and elevations. Can I import a dwg first to use it as a basis for the model? Can you explain how or point me to a specific tutorial please?
Hi, this tutorial should get you started: https://blog.bricsys.com/open-dwg-files-free-edit-export/
Thank you so much Rose Barfield!
Can we download the text from the narrator for the Learn BricsCAD Shape tutorials somewhere? Would be quite helpful
I have sent you an email. I hope this helps.
Tanks, I was able to go to the youtube video and display the text version of the narration.
In transitioning from AutoCAD to BricsCAD what are all the ACAD files that I should copy into BricsCAD?
Hi, You can find more information here: https://blog.bricsys.com/preparing-for-implementation-p2/ . If this doesn’t answer your question, please feel free to get in touch again.
I have been through the Shape tutorials. I may have missed something but how do I do a curved roof or any other freeform shape that does not resemble a wall?
You can use polylines with the ‘arc’ setting to draw curved polylines, or use arcs and ellipses. You can then extrude these. You can also try the loft command. These there is fillet, revolve, then cylinder command, etc. etc.
I am already enjoying this new way of modelling, so fluid and streamlined! good job!
I had downloaded the Bricscad v18 and started the trial but I can’t find the Bricscad Shape and Use it. How and where I can find/use Bricscad shape?
It’s best to download the latest version of BricsCAD. You will then be able to find BricsCAD Shape (the most up-to-date version) in the launcher, underneath the 4 main BricsCAD options.