Autodesk has announced the release of AutoCAD 2010 software, one of the world’s leading design and documentation platforms. Autodesk also announced the 2010 AutoCAD family of discipline-specific software and AutoCAD LT 2010 software for professional drafting and detailing.

The latest release of AutoCAD introduces groundbreaking new capabilities to help users tackle their most challenging design problems, including free-form design tools, parametric drawing and enhanced PDF support, a top request from Autodesk User Group International (AUGI) members.

AutoCAD 2010 provides even more power and innovation to help users document, communicate, explore and customize design ideas. With new free-form design tools, users can more easily explore ideas in 3D models to create almost any shape they can imagine. New PDF import and underlay and enhanced publishing features can improve two-way communication with the extended design team. In addition, the introduction of constraint-based parametric drawing tools enables users to define persistent relationships between objects, accelerating crucial design revision workflows. AutoCAD 2010 now also supports 3D printing, which makes it easy to produce physical 3D models and physical prototypes by connecting to on-demand 3D printing services or personal 3D printers.

The updated AutoCAD 2010 software portfolio includes the following industry-specific applications built on the AutoCAD platform: Architecture, Civil, Electrical, Map 3D, Mechanical, MEP and P&ID.

The latest release of AutoCAD LT 2010, professional 2D drafting and detailing software, incorporates PDF input and output enhancements, additional 2D drafting commands for viewing and editing drawings, and 2D drafting tools from AutoCAD to help increase productivity, including the ALIGN, Xref and Block Attribute commands.

Autodesk Design Review 2010 software is also available as a free download to users of any Autodesk product including the AutoCAD 2010 family of products. With tools to review, mark up, and measure documents, Design Review enables team members to participate in an all-digital design review process. The latest release makes the review process seamless, with updates that support viewing and markup of PDF files.

Product availability varies by country. Details and purchasing options will be accessible beginning March 24, 2009, at www.autodesk.com/autocad.