what software do architecks/draftmens use for plans/design?

i am keen to know as well, ive tried quite a bit of software now and each has there silly learning curves in some part.

my virtual home - is just kiddy stay well away from that
punch super home - is quite good, however the lack of picture export is lousy
cheif architect new one i am on (proper software, complete with training manuals!)
google sketch - like an AFM mspaint..

i am keen to know what the pro's use, as the end result always seams to look formatted the same way.

-Nathan

You'll find that most professionals (not me) use some sort of CAD program - but you have to be quite detailed so you have to really know what you're doing.

I like MyVirtualHome because you can quickly knock something up and get a feel for sizing and how it all fits together - as well as colours. The furniture and windows and things you can use is complicated -it's hard to put in all those 'architectual' details that you see in the modern homes (like niches).

I've also used Chief Architect - I found it a bit too complicated - but maybe that's just because I didn't have the training videos/manuals. It's not quite as complex or detail oriented as CAD but you still really have to know your stuff - like if you say a room is 5000mm wide you have to specify if that is from stud to stud or inner side of plaster to inner side of plaster. Doing things like a niche is possible but complicated and time consuming.