OK guys, I know. Just seems that sometimes a simple question sets off a firestorm. I enjoy trying to visualize projects before I bring out the shovels. I use Showoff, Photoshop, and even Paint to take a photo of the area I am fooling around with and trying different combinations of things until something clicks. It doesn't even have to be a true representation of the specific plants- sometimes just drawing out some bones and different shapes to balance things can be incredibly helpful to me. I choose my exterior colors this way, my roof color, bed placement, plants groupings, hardscapes, and so on. So while such novice timewasting might be useless to someone trained in the art of landscape design it can be incredibly useful to someone who is not. I know what I like but can't always call it right up- I need to finagle things on paper/screen before I commit. If we want to play with it what's the harm? Some of us enjoy the process of learning what works and what doesn't work and while of course not every eventual problem will show up on a simple program, some things do work this way. I don't want to hire someone to make decisions for me, and them bam do an installation and it's done. I want to continue to work the area and improve it in a way that pleases me and satisfies my own needs while at the same time providing me a fun hobby. I want it to look great, too, but I want it to be my creation. I'm way off course and apologize for butting in. But I still say it's fun to play around with the programs available even if they aren't 100% accurate or fluent in teaching design.

Has anyone heard of or used Idea Spectrum's --Realtime Landscaping Plus 2013? It has a feature where you can upload photos and basically design your 2D structure around them. No CAD, no areial view--this is for the basic homeowner who needs to visual with plantings, colors, shapes, etc. Sells for $80-100 depending on if you get the extra water feature package. Thoughts appreciated! It looks cool from the tutorial, but if there's a cheaper, better or equivalent out there I'd appreciate! Here is a link that might be useful: Realtime Landscape Plus 2013

I mean: I draw on board and take photos in project place.but clients demand to feel every suggests include small leaf,small flower,tree prune shape,exact colour and change...draw board don't work well. I have to continue to work.I use software improve to draw board: I import draw pics,project photos into CAD system,get arc,wide,long,height data,handman,DIYer need them.do it,other software not work well. I put cad pics into 3dsmax,change 2ds pics into 3ds mock up. import 3dsmax system file into maya soft ware,improve 3ds small leafs,small flower... dimension.it is important that many clients need to feel designer' suggests before project.here,some people often misunderstand a same tree different size,different distance decide it. import maya file into photoshop, there is a wrong about photoshop,think it can do everything.photoshop is just 2ds software than 3ds.I master it.but I only use it to improve everything color and light.creating mock up,leaf,flower shape...it don't work well. I am searching a software it to work well do everything,but I never successful This forum is a venue.but it is a online designer too.some members tell me,they get their designing from me here.I know many member get their designing from other member's suggests,ideas too.

What exactly do you want it to do for you? LD software is really just a graphics tool - it doesn't actually "design" :-)) Unless you already have a working knowledge and understanding of landscape design elements/processes any LD software is no better than just using graph paper and pencil. But if you just want to chart out what you already have, any of the Paint applications, SmartDraw or Google Sketch Up will work fine. btw, the Landscape Design forum would probably be a better location for this request but be prepared to receive similar advice :-) It's a topic that comes up routinely there.