Software Library

• Creative Cloud Starter Page
  An introduction to Adobe Creative Cloud, featuring beginner-friendly tutorials, app overviews, and guidance on getting started.
• Creative Cloud User Guide
  Detailed instructions on downloading, installing, and using Creative Cloud apps, including tips on managing files and collaborating with others.
• Adobe Learn & Support
  Access tutorials, the user guide, answers to common questions, and help from the community forum.
• Creative Cloud Libraries
  Manage, organise, and keep the latest creative elements at your fingertips — and stay visually consistent across designs, web pages, social posts, brochures, and beyond.

Managing and Sharing Files

• Share and Collaborate on Illustrator Cloud Documents
  Learn how to invite collaborators to review and share comments on your Illustrator cloud documents.
• Share and Collaborate with InDesign Documents
  Share your InDesign documents for review with stakeholders while controlling access to the shared documents.
• Share Public Links to Creative Cloud Files and Folders
  Learn how to share links to your Creative Cloud files, folders, and libraries. Anyone with the link can view the assets from a browser.

What you can do with Adobe Photoshop

• Combine several photographs into one continuous image using the Photomerge option.
• Edit both vector and raster images and photos.
• Post-produce graphics created with other software, such as AutoCAD or SketchUp, by adding objects (i.e., people, trees, etc.), applying texture and brushes, and modifying colours.   

When and why Adobe Photoshop is useful 

• Analysing phase: compare different maps, combining several images to create a high-resolution image (i.e., a Google earth basemap), create analysis maps such as land use, building heights, and figure-ground maps.
• Visualising phase: create conceptual diagrams, sketched ideas, etc.
• Designing phase: design masterplans and photorealistic visualisations. 

Helpful links

• Photoshop Beginner Tutorials
  Step-by-step guides covering the basics of photo editing, layering, and retouching.
• Adobe Photoshop handout guide​ (pdf)

What you can do with Adobe Illustrator 

• Open vector images and edit them by changing colours or adding elements.
• Open raster images and make them editable by tracing contours and lines.
• Post-produce graphics created with other software, such as AutoCAD or SketchUp by adding objects (i.e., arrows, lines, shapes, etc.), and modifying colours.
• Create personalised diagrams, graphs, and canvas.
• Elaborate graphics from scratch, such as cross-sections, axonometries, etc.  

When and why Adobe Illustrator is useful 

• Analysing phase: compare different maps, and easily create analysis maps such as land use, building heights, and figure-ground maps.
• Visualising phase: create conceptual diagrams, brainstorm ideas in a canvas, etc.
• Designing phase: create graphic tools (cross-sections, axonometries, etc.), and bird’s eye visualisations.
• Presenting phase: Collate a poster by putting together information and images.  

Helpful links

• Illustrator Beginner Tutorials
  Guides to mastering vector graphics, logo creation, and illustration techniques.
• Adobe Illustrator handout guide (pdf)​

What you can do with AutoCAD 

• Draw in 2D or 3D and rotate.
• Group or layer objects, keep objects in a database for future use, and manipulate properties of objects, such as size, shape, and location.
• create a re-useable block library to replicate design objects, such as buildings blocks, trees, etc.
• create blueprints and technical floor plans.  

When and why AutoCAD is useful

• Designing phase: design 2D drawings, such as maps, masterplan, sections, elevations, etc.
• Presenting phase: set layouts and export boards  

Accessing AutoCAD

AutoCAD is developed and marketed by Autodesk, which offers the software for free to students as part of the Education Programme.

• AutoCAD installation instructions 

Helpful links

• AutoCAD handout guide​

What you can do with SketchUp for Web 

• Create 3D models by extruding volumes from an AutoCAD model.
• Modelling terrain and contours
• Tracing and image, such as a Google map
• Create cross sections of your 3D model and terrain.
• Add textures and colours to surfaces. 

In terms of producing graphics in urban design and planning (therefore, not technical drawings), we strongly believe that the use of the FREE version provides the students with all the tools they need.  

When and why SketchUp for Web is useful 

• Designing phase: create 3D graphic tools (cross-sections, axonometries, etc.), and photorealistic visualisations. 

Using SketchUp

SketchUp Pro is not free, and the UCL does not hold the licence for students and staff. Therefore, you have two options to use SketchUp: 

1. Use the Free 30 Day Trial For higher education
2. Use the FREE version SketchUp for Web – In this case, you do not have to download anything, but your project will stay online: The first time you use SketchUp, you need to sign in to activate your free version. After you’re signed in, just click on “start modelling”.  

Helpful links

• SketchUp for Web handout guide​

What you can do with Adobe InDesign 

• Create documents by collating together graphics and text.
• Create personalised diagrams, graphs, and canvas.  

When and why InDesign is useful

• Visualising phase: create conceptual diagrams, brainstorm ideas in a canvas, etc.
• Presenting phase: Draft a poster, a presentation or a booklet by putting together information and images. 

Helpful links

• InDesign Beginner Tutorials
  Learn the fundamentals of layout design, typography, and creating multi-page documents.
• Adobe InDesign handout guide (pdf)​

What you can do with Canva

Canva is a user-friendly, web-based design tool ideal for creating posters, social media graphics, presentations, and more. It offers a vast library of templates, fonts, and images, making design accessible even for beginners.

When and why Canva is useful

Canva is perfect for creating visually appealing materials quickly. Whether you're designing a project poster, social media content, or presentation slides, Canva's intuitive interface allows you to produce professional-looking designs without advanced graphic design skills.

Using Canva

• Visit Canva.
• Sign up for a free account using your UCL email.
• Explore templates by typing keywords like “poster,” “presentation,” or “infographic” into the search bar.
• Customise designs by dragging and dropping elements, adjusting text, and uploading your own images.

Learn More:

• Canva Beginner’s Guide
• Canva Essentials Course
• Creating videos with Canva

What you can do with Powerpoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is a widely used presentation software that enables users to create slideshows composed of text, images, charts, and multimedia.

When and why Powerpoint is useful

PowerPoint is essential for creating structured presentations that effectively communicate your ideas. It's particularly useful for academic presentations, project proposals, and visual storytelling.

Using Powerpoint

• Access PowerPoint through Microsoft 365 or the desktop application.
• Start a new presentation and choose from a variety of templates.
• Add slides, insert content, and customise the design using the toolbar options.
• Utilise features like Presenter View to enhance your delivery during presentations.

Helpful links 

• PowerPoint Beginner’s Guide
• Tips for Creating Effective Presentations

What you can do with Digimap 

• View, customise, save, and print maps via 'Roam' tools
• Download map data (for manipulation with Adobe, CAD, or GIS software)
• Stream map data/layers direct to GIS software or to other Digimap collections e.g., as overlays via Web Map ‘Service’ 

When and why Digimap is useful 

• Analysing phase: compare historic maps, understand the development of an area through time, explore the terrain and buildings' heights, etc.
• Visualising phase: create mental associations when looking at a specific map of an area.
• Designing phase: using base maps downloaded via Digimap to design graphic tools (sections, 3Ds, site plans, etc.) 

Accessing Digimap

Digimap is available to UCL students – Individual registration is required, but the service is free at the point of use.

• Access Digimap

Helpful links

• Digimap handout guide​

What you can do with QGIS

• Connect a database (online and public) directly to your data
• Geolocate points from addresses or coordinates
• carry out spatial analysis operations, such as calculating distances, finding points which fall within a polygon, and statistical analysis
• display, analyse and process raster data
• download and work with Plugins, such as OpenStreetMap. 

When and why QGIS is useful

• Analysing phase: compare different maps, combine data in a map, etc.
• Visualising phase: represent quantitative data visually by geolocating it on existing base maps. 

Accessing QGIS

QGIS is available to UCL students – Individual registration is required, but the service is free at the point of use.

• QGIS installation instructions    

Helpful links

• QGIS handout guide​

What you can do with Adobe Premiere 

• convert a video clip to specific format and size
• add captions/title/text or an intro/outro to a clip
• edit out a few seconds of a video and replace them with something else
• adjust colour for better viewing
• tweak volume levels or sound quality to clean up scratchy or difficult audio. 

When and why Adobe Premiere is useful 

• Visualising phase: create conceptual videos and animations, elaborate interactive diagrams and transitions, collate together existing online frames, etc.
• Presenting phase: create a video that show the development of your strategy/project.  

Helpful links

• Premier Pro Beginner Tutorials
  Explore the collection of beginner-friendly tutorials to help you create and edit films and videos using Premiere Pro.
• Adobe Premiere handout guide (pdf)​