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Technical drawings

QAD

From model to issued drawing.

Create plans, sections and viewport views. Add dimensions and annotations, arrange sheets, and publish drawings from Blender.

Blender 5.3
Check store availability ↗Read the PDF guides ↓
Plymouth Argyle pumpset · rendered from the Blender project.
Plymouth Argyle pumpset · rendered from the Blender project.
WHAT IT DOES

QAD, in practice.

QAD replaces Datum as the Lake-Mist technical drawing manager. It connects model views, 2D annotation and paper sheets in one drawing workflow.

01

Managed views

Create Plan, Section and Viewport Views with clipping volumes, filters, drawing layers and per-object display control.

02

Annotation in context

CAD dimensions, symbols, gridlines and tags add information to the drawing view.

03

Sheets at paper scale

Place views at printed size, add titles and coordinate view identifiers on drawing sheets.

04

Publish for handover

Output PNG, PDF, SVG, DXF and DWG. DWG uses ODA File Converter; QAD tracks out-of-date view images.

A CLOSER LOOK

Examples & workflows.

Open any image to inspect it at full size. Captions distinguish development captures, earlier demonstrations and illustrations.

Earlier Datum demonstration: the source model and view frames.
Earlier Datum demonstration: the source model and view frames.
Earlier Datum demonstration: composing a drawing sheet in Blender.
Earlier Datum demonstration: composing a drawing sheet in Blender.
Earlier Datum output: section linework, hatching and annotation.
Earlier Datum output: section linework, hatching and annotation.
Earlier Datum output: plan and sections arranged on an A1 sheet.
Earlier Datum output: plan and sections arranged on an A1 sheet.
Development screenshot: QAD sections comparing native and IFC-imported pipe geometry.
Development screenshot: QAD sections comparing native and IFC-imported pipe geometry.
Illustrated workflow: create model views, compose a sheet, then publish.
Illustrated workflow: create model views, compose a sheet, then publish.
BEFORE YOU START

The right setup.

Package: QAD (or QAD Lite), XForm, Assy, Profiles, Para and Shell.

Install either QAD or QAD Lite from the supplied edition package. Do not install both editions together. Keep its companion extensions enabled. For DWG, configure the ODA File Converter path in QAD preferences; PDF and SVG do not need that converter.

LEARN QAD

Three guides. A clear starting point.

Illustrated PDFs · Reviewed 8 October 2026 · Save a copy for reference.

00OverviewWhat it does, where it fits and what to expect.PDF · 2 pages ↗01Installation of AddonPackages, requirements and first-launch checks.PDF · 2 pages ↗02Quick Start TutorialA focused exercise with checks and troubleshooting.PDF · 3 pages ↗

Quick-start exercise: Make a plan and a simple PDF sheet.

Find your next tool.

Explore the rest of the Lake-Mist family and find the next step in your workflow.

Explore all products ↗

See QAD in motion.

Watch the six-minute development overview and jump to the product chapter.

Watch the overview