Blender Make2D and toward DAL Studio
Architectural workflows still rely on a familiar split:
3D modeling in one tool, 2D drawings in another.
At DAL Studio, we’re working to reduce that gap by making Blender a more architecturally fluent environment—not just for visualization, but for drafting, annotation, and collaboration.
The DAL Make2D and Curves to SVG plugins are early steps toward that goal.
Why Make2D Still Matters
Even as tools evolve, architectural drawings remain the primary way ideas are communicated—between architects, engineers, consultants, and builders.
Many existing Make2D workflows are:
One-off or destructive
Difficult to edit after export
Inconsistent in scale
Detached from the 3D model
Our approach focuses on view-based Make2D, where drawings are generated from carefully defined camera views and remain connected to the model as it evolves.
The DAL Blender Make2D Plugin
The DAL Make2D plugin generates clean 2D linework directly from your 3D model using Blender’s native systems.
Key ideas:
Views are driven by orthographic or isometric cameras
Linework is generated at true scale
Output geometry remains editable in Blender
Drawings can read parametric booleans, avoiding destructive section and plan views
Drawings can be regenerated as the model changes
This mirrors how architects already think about drawings: plans, sections, elevations, and axons are defined by views, not object categories.
Drafting with Grease Pencil and Curves
A major part of this workflow is Blender’s Grease Pencil system.
Grease Pencil allows architects to:
Draw directly on top of 3D views
Add annotations, diagrams, and emphasis
Combine precise geometry with expressive linework
This creates space for interpretation and intent—an essential part of architectural drawing that often gets lost in purely automated workflows.
Curves to SVG: From Blender to Illustrator
While Blender becomes more capable as a drafting tool, Illustrator remains central for many offices when it comes to layout and presentation.
The DAL Curves to SVG plugin bridges that gap by:
Exporting Blender curves directly to SVG
Creating one Illustrator layer per Blender curve object
Preserving true 1:1 scale (inches remain inches)
Allowing you to choose the export location each time
If a line is 2 inches tall in Blender, it will be 2 inches tall in Illustrator—no rescaling or guesswork.
A Connected Workflow
Together, these tools support a workflow where:
Architecture is modeled natively in Blender
Drawings are generated from controlled views
Final layout and graphic adjustments can be composed in Illustrator when needed
Each step stays connected to the model, reducing redraws and increasing clarity.
Supporting Ongoing Development
All proceeds from these plugins go directly toward supporting the team developing new tools to advance architectural workflows inside Blender.
That support helps us continue building:
Drafting and annotation tools
Sheet and view management systems within Blender’s environment
Deeper Grease Pencil integrations
Open, collaborative workflows across disciplines
These plugins are not endpoints—they are foundations.
