3D Abilities

This may be the most significant difference for some users. If you want to model in 3D, you have no choice but to use the full version. In AutoCAD LT, you can open and view 3D models created in the full version of AutoCAD, but you can't edit them or create new ones. The only 3D construction you can do in AutoCAD LT is to apply a thickness property to linework. (In AutoCAD, thickness means perpendicular to the drawing plane; don't confuse it with width, which applies to objects on the drawing plane.)

And even if you can open 3D models from the full version in AutoCAD LT, it's not easy to view them. There are only a limited number of preset viewing positions, unlike the full version where you can rotate or orbit around your model to your heart's content.

Finally, because AutoCAD LT is really a 2D drafting program, there are no visualization or presentation capabilities, unlike the full program, which has several built-in visual styles, such as Conceptual and Realistic, as well as a humongous materials library for rendering models.

Get AutoCAD® 2012 FOR DUMMIES® now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.