What is SolidWorks Composer?
SolidWorks Composer is a technical communication software tool developed by Dassault Systèmes that allows you to create technical illustrations and animations from your SolidWorks CAD data. The software allows you to create 2D graphical content that clearly demonstrates your product or process. You work directly with your original 3D CAD data to create high-quality illustrations, raster images and animations.
Often Composer is sold or misunderstood to be a full solution to creating 2D technical documentation. This is not the case. Composer is used to create assets (e.g. images) which are then put into other software such as Microsoft Word or Adobe InDesign. It is also sold as being able to make interactive content to share easily, but in reality, this is a lot more problematic then you may be lead to believe – see the disadvantages below.
It is almost exactly the same as CATIA composer, however can open fewer file types and has a difference price point to account for the CATIA market.
What is SolidWorks Composer used for?
The majority of Composer will be outputting images for use in technical documentation, such as assembly instructions, maintenance manuals, and training materials. It can also be used to create animations and assets to use in sales, marketing, and customer service.
Is SolidWorks Composer included with SolidWorks standard, professional or premium?
SolidWorks Composer is its own product and not included with any SolidWorks package.
What is SolidWorks Composer Player?
SolidWorks Composer Player is a stand alone piece of software that can open existing SolidWorks Composer projects for viewing. It is an executable, so you will require advanced operating systems permissions to install it. With it being simply a viewer, the user can not add or edit items within the project. Whilst it includes a web browser plug-in, it relies on out dated and insecure technology that is not supported in Chrome or Safari making it unfit for purpose.
What can SolidWorks Composer Output?
SolidWorks Composer can save out vector images, such as SVGs, as well as raster images (jpgs). You can also save out animations as AVIs and create a file that can be run in its player.
Advantages of SolidWorks Composer
Nice looking Vector outputs
It can’t be denied that its main selling point and best feature is the vector outputs that can be produced. The shading on them is great and the structure of the SVG itself is nice enough if wanting to edit in an external program.
Does Not Consume a CAD License
Composer is its own standalone software so you do not require an additional SolidWorks license to open CAD files.
Repurpose Existing CAD data
You are using the same data as your SolidWorks engineers. You don’t need to spend additional time recreating images from scratch. It can also open up other CAD systems file such as CREO and Autodesk Inventor.
Updates from CAD Files
You can update Composer documents when the original CAD data changes. This means you can start your documentation earlier on and easily amend and resave images when designs change without having to start over again. There are some limitations to this though, if file names or assembly structure/hierarchy change, then it won’t work as expected.
Batch Export
Rather than having to hassle the SolidWorks user for screenshots, using Composer allows you to position, colour and manipulate the CAD geometry to get the look you want. Once your views have been created you can batch export them in one go to use in other software. This can save a substantial amount of time over traditional methods.
Disadvantages of SolidWorks Composer?
Cost
You can’t avoid the fact that Composer is very expensive. It costs roughly the same amount as a seat of SolidWorks CAD. There are also hidden costs, such as training (see below) and equipment. The recommend computer specs to run Composer match that of SolidWorks, requiring a costly setup and CAD grade graphics card. If you don’t meet the recommended system requirements, there are no guarantee it will run and if you experience problems your Value Added Reseller may not be able to help.
Underdeveloped
Check out the latest what’s new for composer. You are paying $1000+ for upgrades yet getting very little for your money. You can look back over the last 10 years and notice that very little of substance has changed, been added or fixed. It certainly seems like SolidWorks / Dassault are not actively developing the software in any meaningful way.
Problematic Interactive Content
Whilst you can save out 3D content to share with people, in practice it is not very useful. Composer relies on outdated, unsupported and insecure ActiveX technology, so you can’t share with anyone online easily. There is a free Composer Player that can open Composer projects, but the interface is not very customisable and still has all the same hardware requirements as the main Composer software to run effectively.
Is SolidWorks Composer Difficult to Learn?
Most VARs will offer a 2/3 day training course for SolidWorks Composer. It would be difficult to really get to grips and understand it fully without someone showing you want to do, this will add extra expense and time out of the office.
That said, once you get going with Composer, it’s actually not that bad to use and you can start producing output very quickly. One of its selling points is that you do not require any previous CAD experience to understand it, however it certainly helps.
Are there any SolidWorks Composer Alternatives?
Yes! Here at Cadasio we are trying to take a more modern and cost effective approach. Whilst we are primarily focused on creating interactive, 3D presentations that can be shared with anyone, we can also create 2D images and movies. Check out our comparison blog article for some more information, or give Cadasio a go right now for free by simply creating an account.
