Designing rooms or entire buildings is what you hope to do on a computer, but sometimes you have to do things on the fly. Better yet, you should focus on the plan and make changes, where you will do the actual physical work. This is where MagicPlan comes in.
Contac us
This service is developed to run on an iOS or Android phone or tablet. The app itself is free and you can try the service for free, but if you're going to use it regularly, you'll need to subscribe (more on that later). After installing the app, you need to create an account and you are ready to go.
Start a new project by adding a part; how you do it depends on your skills and whether the AR option works as advertised... (Image credit: MagicPlan) Creating a new project is easy: just tap the big blue '+'. You have the option to name your project and even add the address where the work will be done, but this is all optional. Tap the other blue check mark to start designing. This is where you will see one of MagicPlan's cool features: "Scanning with Camera". If you're in the room you'll be working in, you can use AR (Augmented Reality) to let the app scan and measure the room for you. It worked well, although we thought it would work much better in a room with no furniture.
Work on the plan
Whichever option you choose (assisted AR or manual), begin by describing the location of the room: exactly what floor it is on and exactly what kind of space it is on. There are countless options to select from, whether it is a commercial or residential location (private office, cafeteria, lobby, office, living room, warehouse, more to name a few).
As you create your layout, many measurements appear to help you keep the actual world room you're designing as concrete as possible (Image credit: MagicPlan) Now, you're propelled into design mode. The creation process is quite easy. If you chose a square room, you will be presented with 4 walls. Touch one of them to choose it, then drag it to our exit to change the size of the room. Touch a corner to move that space from that point. You can also split a wall to create irregularly shaped areas. By doing so, your MagicPlan will display any and all measurements you need to make sure your design stays accurate (by default, our app displays measurements in feet and inches - if you need to change this, you can do so from the "Settings" tab of your account).
There is a long list of free items for , including quite a few "hidden" items... (Image credit: MagicPlan) Adding windows, doors, or any kind of furniture is done by pressing the "Add an object" button. Everything is separated by category, but if you know what you're looking for, type it in the search box and all the available options will be revealed. If you can't find what you're looking for, press 'more' to reveal the 'hidden' items, mainly less commonly used items that are still an integral part of the app, such as furniture, systems, security, and even medical equipment. .
Each and every item is absolutely editable (Image credit: MagicPlan)
Customization of articles
Anything you add to your plan can be further customized: tap it a couple of times to reveal its dimensions, which are fully editable. It is also the place to leave notes or include photos of real world objects that you may have in mind. We really liked the feature (also present when altering walls) of the arrow used to manipulate and rotate an object that turns green when it's at a right angle. This makes it very easy to alter your environment without stopping to be precise. Your project is not restricted to a single room: thanks to this procedure, you can add auxiliary spaces and end up creating a complete home. There are some handy time-saving options here, like the ability to quickly join parts together or split them again if you change your mind (there are also handy undo options you can tap at any time, though there's no redo).
Always and in all circumstances it is nice to see your work in 3D… (Image credit: MagicPlan)
3d view
What's the use of design software if you don't know how to play in 3D, and again, MagicPlan doesn't disappoint. When enabled, you can zoom, rotate, move or distance (the walls become opaque or transparent according to your viewing angle), everything is very enveloping. You can also share any angle by framing your shot the way you want and pressing the Share button (top right), or simply taking a snapshot.
Estimates
Most of the things are nothing you can't do on other systems, whether it's desktop software or online services. Portability is an essential factor, don't get me wrong, and the AR option (when running) can save you time, but perhaps the most interesting aspect of this application is its estimation function.
The Estimate feature is going to give you a great idea of how much all this work is going to cost... (Image credit: MagicPlan) When you've put together your plan, hit the "Start quoting for this project" button. "Menu. This is where monetary value is assigned per proposed workforce. Scroll through your options like Paint, Flooring, and Electrical, and choose from the various suggestions (paint doors, paint ceilings, install a sink, tile, grout, etc.). These each have a base value that leads to a full estimate of the cost of labor for the work required.This could be a really useful way of getting a quick idea of how much to charge a customer for the service, for For example, or perhaps how long to expect a builder to charge you!
MagicPlan offers you 3 plans to select from (Image credit: MagicPlan)
Packages and prices
By using this application fully and regularly, you have 3 monthly subscriptions. The first is Sketch at €2 (€3) per month. With it, you can work on an unlimited number of projects, measure and draw a part, export 2D and XNUMXD designs, and cooperate with others. The report (€XNUMX (€XNUMX) per month) includes the ability to work with photos and also three hundred and sixty images. You can also include notes and annotations, ideal when working in a team, and have access to custom forms and objects. Estimate (€XNUMX (€XNUMX) per month) lets you generate customized cost lists, cost estimates, and gives you access to phone support. Any plan can also be paid for annually, and you get a couple of months free if you want it that way. Better yet, if you want to try the service, the MagicPlan app lets you work on XNUMX projects for free. As long as you delete them when you're done, you'll be able to test the service pretty much forever.
Final verdict
MagicPlan is an original design program. It's a mobile app (though you can access some features through a web browser as well), with easy-to-use features, a great AR option, and a great way to produce estimates for the job at hand. The monthly subscriptions might be worth it if you design your business, and it also gives you 2 free projects that casual users can explore as well. Clearly worth a look. Need help with your next creative project in your home? Check out our roundups of the best interior design software and the best architecture software.