Tutorials
The tutorials below walk you through the various features and functions of our premier DreamDraper interior design software. Whether you’re just getting started with the program or need to review, these videos will help you along.
**Looking for additional instruction? We also offer a number of webinars, private tutoring, group training and seminars! You can also refer to our Support & FAQs.
You may also wish to refer to our Guide to Toolbar Icons & Commands.
The tutorials are organized into these categories:
Basic Features
Time-Saving Features
Design-On-A-Photo
Working with Color
Working with Fabric
Drawing Tools
Space Planning
Please take particular note of each lesson’s description – many of the program’s features now have advanced capabilities available only in the latest G5 Gold release. If you have the G5 Gold release installed on your computer, look for special G5 links in each tutorial’s description so you can view the advanced features.
Note: If you are using a slow-speed internet connection, each lesson may take several minutes to download. Depending on the settings of your monitor, you may have to scroll to the right or to the bottom to view the entirety of what is depicted in the lesson, or to see the controls.
Learn how to start, pause, fast forward, and rewind each lesson
Introduction
Overview of the DreamDraper design program. This tutorial is a great summary of what you can accomplish with DreamDraper!
Basic Features:
Getting Started
Introduction to the design canvas.
Save a Portfolio
Save your design (Portfolio file) with its multiple canvases. Progress Bars.
Preferences
Specify your own fill color, font color, stroke color and other preferences to drawing objects and text, so that the program will automatically default to your preferences.
Size A Window
Input dimensions or scale (by dragging mouse). Use the Dimension Tool to sketch the room setting. Freeform Dimension Tool and Discrete Dimension Tool.
Find A Design
Design Library – includes BREAK-APART™ Designs and their components, plus standard components. Just look for the Gold Buttons.
*If you have the G5 Gold edition, view Design Library Enhancements and learn how to navigate through the design library faster than ever!
Click Away
Deselecting objects after ungrouping, or after changing select mode.
Group and Order
Grouping and ungrouping. Selecting and deselecting. Moving objects backwards or forwards (down or up).
Flip and Align
Create a mirror-image of a treatment and line up perfectly.
Design on a Perspective
Angle a treatment to fit a bay or corner window, or to precisely fit on top of a photo of a window taken at an angle.
*If you have the G5 Gold edition, view Free Distort. Skew each side of a design, independently. G5 Gold gives you both options – simultaneous skewing with the previous Perspective tool, or asymmetrical skewing with the new Free Distort tool.
Change Line Thickness
Change the line (stroke) thickness of your design. You may want to do this if working with a busy or dark fabric.
Create Translucent Sheers
Create a translucent sheer out of any design element. This works on plain drawings as well as those filled with color and fabric.
Create Translucent Windows
Add color or wood grain to a window frame and create translucent panes so that you can view a landscape photo.
Text
Add text to your design. (This lesson was recorded using the G5 Gold edition and shows a different text input box than earlier G-series editions.)
Create a JPG
Create a large jpg of your design, suitable for printing or presentation purposes.
Time-Saving Features:
Search for Designs
Quickly find a design by entering a keyword, description, or pattern name or number.
*If you have the G5 Gold edition, you may skip this lesson completely and instead view Search Enhancements.
Rename a Design
Rename a design and customize the description to fit your own business.
Add to Favorites
Save time. Add a design to your Favorites collection so that you can quickly find it.
View Selected Designs
Another timesaver. Narrow down your search by selecting designs for further review.
Design-On-A-Photo:
Insert Image – I
Insert a photo onto the canvas and design on top of it.
*If you have the G5 Gold edition, skip this lesson completely and instead view Insert Image Enhancements.
Insert Image – II
Advanced features of file compression, for use if using an older computer.
*If you have the G5 Gold edition, skip this lesson completely and instead view Insert Image Enhancements.
Photo Crop – I
Cut out furniture in your photo and place on top of your window treatment designs, in just a few seconds.
Photo Crop – II
More examples of cropping with the drawing tools.
Image Transparency
Incorporate furniture and accessory images from manufacturer’s websites and transform the background matte color to a transparent matte.
*If you have the G5 Gold edition, skip this lesson completely and instead view TKO – Total Knockout. Remove multiple colors from backgrounds of photos taken from vendor websites or other sources.
Working With Color:
Add Color
Add color to a design. With complete Design Freedom, you can add color (or fabric) to any part of the design ¾ and all without having to ungroup the design.
*If you have the G5 Gold edition, you may skip this lesson completely and view Quick Fill. Fill designs with color, fabric, or textures, with a single click of the mouse. You can do it all on the first arrow!
Add Detail Color – I
Add color (or fabric) to the detail trim and areas of contrast of your design.
*If you have the G5 Gold edition, make sure to also view Quick Fill. Fill designs with color, fabric, or textures, with a single click of the mouse. You can do it all on the first arrow!
Add Detail Color – II
With complete Design Freedom, you can add color (or fabric) to any part of your design ¾ and all without having to ungroup or take apart the design.
*If you have the G5 Gold edition, make sure to also view Quick Fill. Fill designs with color, fabric, or textures, with a single click of the mouse. You can do it all on the first arrow!
Add Detail Color – III
More examples of adding color (or fabric) to the detail trim.
*If you have the G5 Gold edition, make sure to also view Quick Fill. Fill designs with color, fabric, or textures, with a single click of the mouse. You can do it all on the first arrow!
Color Palette
Create custom colors.
Working With Fabric:
Fill With Fabric
Fill your design with fabric.
*If you have the G5 Gold edition, make sure to also view Quick Fill. Fill designs with color, fabric, or textures, with a single click of the mouse. You can do it all on the first arrow!
Add Your Own Fabric
Add your own fabric to the Swatch Library and size the fabric to scale. Click here for more tips.
Crop Your Fabric
Crop your fabric to show a perfect repeat.
Style Eyedropper
Using our exclusive Style Eyedropper, you can quickly transfer a fabric print, texture, pattern, color, or even transparency from one design element to another.
Drawing Tools:
Layers
Create options for your client using layers. Hide or reveal options, fabrication or installation instructions, and pricing information.
Drawing
Draw walls and molding to create a background setting.
Drawing Bays
Use the Drawing tools to create walls and background settings for bay and corner windows.
Edit Points – I
Alter the shape of your designs using Edit Points. Pull on the Edit Points handles to create sharper curves or more rounded edges.
Edit Points – II
Design on a photo, and cut around furniture.
Edit Points – III
Reshape your design without having to take it apart.
Space Planning:
Perimeter I
Build your wall perimeter when creating a floor plan. Review the basic lessons first. (This lesson was recorded using the G5 Gold edition and shows some features not available in earlier releases.)
Perimeter II
Creating irregular perimeters, and understanding the basics. Make sure to also view the shortcuts lesson below. (This lesson was recorded using the G5 Gold edition and shows some features not available in earlier releases.)
Perimeter III
Shortcuts when creating an irregular perimeter. (This lesson was recorded using the G5 Gold edition and shows some features not available in earlier releases.)
Tutorial Controls:
When you click on one of the tutorial links, the lesson will download to your computer and start playing. Each lesson is only about 3-to-5 minutes in length.
The image at right is a miniaturized depiction of a lesson. You can start, pause, fast forward, and rewind each lesson using the controls located at the bottom of each lesson:
or
To play the lessons, you will need to have Adobe Flash Player installed:
