AutoCAD LT

Introducing AutoCAD LT category

AutoCAD LT products are perfect for: small businesses, environmental engineers, interior designers, landscape and garden architects, technical or artistic studios

Main benefits:

• Comprehensive set of drawing tools that can be used for simple as well as complex multi-layered drawings.
• Straight forward learning curve that allows you to quickly start drafting basic, yet professional looking drafts and plans
• High accuracy that is especially useful for technical and construction drawings.
• Possibility to export the final document into a PDF file that can be easily shared with anyone.
• The LT version can be used effectively on a regular computer without the need to have very advanced hardware.
  
  

Please note: The AutoCAD LT products that we offer can differ as newer releases usually come with additional features and improvements of the already existing ones. The following description focuses on one of the latest perpetual products – AutoCAD LT 2018.

Introducing AutoCAD LT 2018

AutoCAD LT editions offer fast, precise and simplified, yet professionally executed 2D drafting and documentation. Designed primarily for less demanding users and tasks, it offers a more affordable solution for your team, in comparison with the full version of AutoCAD.

The improved 2D drawing tools increase the efficiency and accuracy of your team and minimize repetitive work – beside the standard vector drafting, you can attach raster images to your vector drawings as externally referenced files, quickly view, access, manage, and plot multiple drawings as a sheet, and enjoy a streamlined intuitive interface while working.

Thanks to the TrustedDWG technology, you can share your work with other team members on desktop, cloud and mobile platforms; additionally, files created with it are compatible with all other Autodesk products.

What’s new in AutoCAD LT 2018?

• PDF import  – import geometry, fills, font files, TrueType text, and raster images from a PDF
• External file references  – fix broken paths for externally referenced files with ease
• Object selection  – selected objects stay selected even if you pan or zoom offscreen
• Text to Mtext  – convert combinations of single-line and multi-line text to a single Mtext object
• User interface  – work intuitively with common dialog boxes and toolbars
• Design views  – edit and manage AutoCAD views and drawings online from any computer with Autodesk’s A360 service
• High-resolution monitor support  – enjoy clear and smooth viewing experience even on 4K and higher resolution displays

Minimum hardware requirements

Processor: 1 GHz or faster
Memory: 2 GB
Hard Disk Space: 4 GB
Graphics: 1 GB CPU processor; DirectX 9; 1360 x 768 screen resolution
Operating system: Windows 7 SP1, 8.1, 10 (64-bit only); Mac OS 10.13 or later (64-bit only)

IMPORTANT: Starting with AutoCAD LT 2020, the program only runs on systems with the 64-bit architecture as the compatibility with 32-bit architecture systems has been discontinued.

Please keep in mind that the minimum hardware requirements differ significantly between AutoCAD LT versions, that’s why you should always check this information in the product detail of a specific product.

AutoCAD LT vs AutoCAD

What is the difference between these two versions?

The main and most important one is that AutoCAD LT is focused on 2D drafting, drawings, and documentation, whether the full version of AutoCAD not only offers 2D drawing, but also 3D modeling and visualization.

You can see a basic overview of the differences in the table below. If you would like to learn more about the mentioned features, just click the one you are interested in and the link will take you to the feature description.

AutoCAD LT vs AutoCAD comparison table

AutoCAD LT vs AutoCAD – feature details

3D Modelling
In AutoCAD LT you can open and view 3D models created in the full version of AutoCAD, but you can’t create any new ones or edit them. AutoCAD provides full support for 3D modelling.

Parametric Drawings
AutoCAD LT allows you to display, edit and change values of existing constrained drawings. A full version of AutoCAD provides full support for parametric drawings.

Licensing
AutoCAD is available in the SLM and NLM licensing model. AutoCAD LT is available in the SLM version, NLM is not supported.

What is the difference between SLM and NLM?
SLM = Single License Manager: 1 SLM product can be installed and activated on up to 2 devices, but it can only be used on 1 device at a time. Special conditions apply. Click here for more information.
NLM = Network License Manager: 1 NLM product can be installed on an unlimited number of devices, but can be used only on 1 device at any given moment. The total number of products that can be in use equals the amount of NLMs you have bought.

Customization
A simple customization is available for AutoCAD LT – for instance: writing scripts, creating and modifying toolbars or using custom hatch patterns and linetypes. Apart from the aforementioned features, the full version of AutoCAD supports a number of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for more advanced customization.

Express Tools
Express Tools is a library of productivity tools designed to extend the power of AutoCAD products. This set of very useful additional tools is provided by Autodesk as a courtesy to their customers, but since they’re officially unsupported, the company doesn’t take any responsibility for their successful operation. These tools are available in the full version of AutoCAD.

Should I choose AutoCAD LT, or AutoCAD?

Still not sure which of the versions is a better fit for you? Check what you should consider before you make a final decision:

1. Type of market and future projects
Your choice should be based on the type of market you want to aim at with your designs. Residential construction projects can be presented in 2D, but for advanced commercial constructions you might need 3D design and visualization.

2. Learning curves
Do you have time and resources to train your employees? It may take time to get familiarized with the program, so make sure that you checked basic features and tools available in both software products before making a decision. As AutoCAD LT offers only 2D drafting and has less advanced features, it will take less time to start using it.

3. Price and return on investment
Every purchase of new software should be treated as an investment. New functionalities should let you create more valuable projects and generate more profit. Consider which features are essential for you and the future development of your business and count which version of AutoCAD will bring a better ROI.