CAD/CAM Software Brand

Pictures by PC: Four Decades of CAD/CAM Innovation in Germany

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General Description and Background

Pictures by PC is a comprehensive CAD/CAM software suite developed by the Munich-based company Schott Systeme GmbH. First launched in the early 1980s, this system combines computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) capabilities in a single package. It enables users to design 2D drawings and 3D models, generate photo-realistic renderings, and program toolpaths for CNC machining – all within the same integrated environment. The software’s unusual name harks back to its origins: it was among the very first programs to create “pictures” on a personal computer at a time when PC graphics were virtually non-existent. Today, Pictures by PC has evolved into a full-featured platform used for everything from initial product concept and design to final manufacturing and documentation. The vendor, Schott Systeme, is a privately held German firm that has specialized in CAD/CAM and computer graphics software for over 40 years. The company is known for its customer-centric philosophy and its longevity in an industry where many competitors have been acquired or have disappeared over time.

Schott Systeme offers Pictures by PC as a modular but integrated solution. In practical terms, this means the software covers a broad spectrum of functionalities under one roof. Users can draft precise technical drawings, build complex 3D surface and solid models, and then seamlessly generate toolpaths to machine those designs on CNC equipment. Unlike many CAD/CAM vendors, Schott Systeme does not split these capabilities into separate products or charge separate licenses for design vs. manufacturing – it’s truly a single, all-in-one system. The result is a unified workflow: a designer can sketch an idea, refine it into a detailed 3D model, and immediately produce NC code to mill or 3D-cut the part, without exporting to another program. This tight integration has made Pictures by PC popular with small and mid-sized manufacturing companies that value simplicity and efficiency. Schott Systeme’s official website describes the software as a “universal CAD/CAM complete solution” supporting the entire process “from the design idea to the product,” underscoring its end-to-end scope. In short, Pictures by PC and its developer represent a unique case of enduring CAD/CAM innovation – a single solution that has steadily grown with the personal computer era.

Areas of Application

Originally born as a graphics and drafting tool, Pictures by PC today finds application in a wide range of industries and use cases. Its versatility allows it to be used for artistic design as well as heavy-duty manufacturing. Major areas of application include:

Product Design and Prototyping: Industrial designers and engineers use Pictures by PC to sketch concepts, create 3D product models, and prepare prototypes. The software supports freeform surface modeling and solid modeling, making it suitable for designing consumer products, automotive components, and complex shapes like ergonomic housings or toys. Its built-in rendering and animation tools also help with product visualization and presentation, allowing companies to create realistic images and even walkthrough animations of their designs before anything is built.
Tool, Mold and Die Making: Pictures by PC is widely adopted in the tool-and-die industry, including mold making for plastics and metal casting. Users can design intricate molds or stamping tools in 3D and then directly generate the CNC milling and drilling paths needed to fabricate them. The software excels at handling complex freeform surfaces often found in injection mold tooling. It has specialized features for high-speed machining and electrode design, which are crucial in the mold-making process. Many mold makers appreciate that they can go from part design to mold machining within one system, streamlining their workflow.
Mechanical Engineering and CNC Machining: Mechanical machine shops and fabrication workshops leverage Pictures by PC for general CAD drafting and CNC programming. The system covers 2.5D and 3D milling operations, multi-sided machining (indexed 5-axis), and even full 5-axis simultaneous machining with an optional module. This means it can tackle simple tasks like 2D plate cutting and drilling, as well as complex 5-axis milling of impellers or aerospace components. It also supports turning and mill-turn operations (for lathes and multi-function machines) and 2D/4-axis wire EDM cutting. With all standard CNC machining processes supported, many job shops use Pictures by PC as a one-stop solution to program all their mills, lathes, and wire cutters. Engraving and carving functions are also included, which is useful for making signage, molds with text or logos, and artistic metalwork.
Engraving, Carving and Jewelry: Thanks to its roots in graphics, the software is adept at engraving and carving applications. Jewelers, sign-makers, and engravers use it to create 3D reliefs, text engravings, and decorative patterns. Pictures by PC can generate toolpaths for 3-axis and even 4- or 5-axis engraving, useful for complex jewelry designs or cutting patterns on curved surfaces. Its ability to combine vector graphic design with CNC output is a strength in this niche, as users can draw intricate designs (with Bezier curves, typography, etc.) and then machine them precisely.
Technical Documentation and Illustration: Unusually for a CAD/CAM package, Pictures by PC also includes tools for technical illustration and documentation. Companies can use it to produce assembly manuals, exploded view diagrams, and parts catalogs. For example, a manufacturer might design a machine in 3D and then directly generate 2D technical illustrations with “thick-thin line” art style from the 3D model. These illustrations can be combined with text and symbols (using the software’s built-in desktop publishing features) to create complete instruction booklets or maintenance manuals. This capability means engineers can document their designs without exporting drawings to a separate illustration program – saving time and ensuring accuracy. It’s a niche but important application, especially for firms that need to produce a lot of technical documentation in-house.
Specialized OEM Solutions: Beyond its off-the-shelf uses, Pictures by PC has also been adapted as an OEM solution in specialized fields such as dental CAD/CAM and orthopedic implant manufacturing. Schott Systeme’s open architecture allowed industry partners to build custom applications on top of Pictures by PC. For instance, there have been dental milling systems (for creating prosthetic teeth and crowns) developed by third-party partners using the Pictures by PC platform as their core. Such tailored solutions, based on Schott’s technology, are used internationally in dental labs and medical device industries. This demonstrates the software’s flexibility – it can be customized to serve very specific industry needs while leveraging its robust modeling and machining engine.

In summary, Pictures by PC is used anywhere a seamless transition from design to manufacturing is needed. Its users range from automotive and aerospace engineers, to toolmakers, to artists and educators. Over the decades, it has carved out a strong presence especially in the toolmaking and prototyping sectors, where the ability to design and immediately mill the part on a CNC machine offers a significant productivity boost. The breadth of application – from graphic design and typography to 5-axis machining – is one of the defining characteristics of this software.

History and Evolution

The story of Pictures by PC is deeply intertwined with the personal computing revolution. Schott Systeme GmbH was founded in 1983 by two German entrepreneurs, Hans-Joachim Schott and Rolf Silvan Greverus, who started the business literally in a back-street garage in Munich. In the early 1980s, PCs were primitive: graphic user interfaces were rare, and displays showed mostly text. The two founders set out to change that. They developed one of the first vector-based graphics programs for microcomputers, effectively teaching the PC how to draw shapes and lines. Their very first software incarnation in 1983 was nicknamed “Graphics and Dots” – a rudimentary tool that coaxed 8-bit computers and plotters to output actual graphical plots rather than just alphanumeric text. This breakthrough laid the groundwork for what would become Pictures by PC. By 1984, with the advent of the IBM AT and better graphics cards, Schott and Greverus rolled out Pictures by PC version 1.0, a more polished graphical CAD program that ran on DOS. The name itself – Pictures by PC – highlighted the novelty at the time: creating graphical “pictures” using a personal computer.

From those humble beginnings, Pictures by PC grew in capability alongside the rapid progress of computing hardware. In the late 1980s, as computer-aided design truly took off, Schott Systeme added complex free-form surface modeling features to the software. By 1988, the program could handle sophisticated 3D surfaces, which was quite advanced for a PC-based system at that time. They also began integrating CAM functionality for CNC machining. Despite the limited processing power of late-80s PCs, the team optimized algorithms to allow toolpath calculations for both simple 2.5D machining and even complex 3D milling. This made Pictures by PC one of the first PC-based CAM packages on the market, at a time when most CAM was done on expensive workstations or mainframes.

In the 1990s, the software navigated the transition from DOS to Windows. Schott Systeme’s strategy was to develop every aspect of the software in-house and maintain a consistent codebase, which helped them migrate the program to new operating systems without starting from scratch. The result was Pictures by PC version 2.6, released in the late 90s, which was fully adapted to run on Windows (specifically Windows 95/98) while preserving backward compatibility with older files. Users who had drawings from the 1980s could still open them in the newer version – a testament to the company’s commitment to continuity. By the end of the 90s, Pictures by PC had become a mature CAD/CAM product, incorporating 3D solid modeling and a range of CAM features, all running on standard PCs under Windows.

The 2000s saw further evolution with a focus on integration and user-driven improvements. In the early 2000s, Schott Systeme introduced the Pictures by PC 3.x series, which unified all modules (CAD, CAM, graphics, etc.) into a single platform more tightly. Version 3.2 was released around 2008, and notably, the company was preparing a fully 64-bit edition to take advantage of modern CPUs. By this time, the software’s capabilities were broad: it could do technical drafting, complex 3D modeling, high-end rendering, and multi-axis machining. Importantly, the developers maintained an open architecture and even exposed much of the software’s functionality via an internal programming interface. Advanced users could write scripts or routines (in essence, custom macros) to automate repetitive tasks in CAD or CAM. This programmability stemmed from the founders’ original principles and allowed the software to be customized for specific workflows – a feature that power users and OEM partners found extremely valuable.

Throughout the 2010s, Pictures by PC continued to incorporate cutting-edge manufacturing techniques. For example, by version 3.5 and 3.6 (circa 2013), the software had robust support for 5-axis machining strategies. Schott Systeme demonstrated these advancements at major industry events – at EMO Hannover 2013, they showcased new 5-axis simultaneous milling capabilities and intelligent feature recognition that could automatically detect pockets and holes in a 3D model for machining. The company proudly pointed out that the core software was the same product they launched back in 1983, just continually enhanced. Indeed, by 2013 they were celebrating the 30th anniversary of both the company and the software’s development. Hans-Joachim Schott, still leading the company as Managing Director, marked the occasion at the EuroMold trade fair in Frankfurt – which Schott Systeme had attended for 20 consecutive years – by highlighting the company’s consistent progress. Over three decades, Pictures by PC had grown from a simple graphics program into one of the most mature CAD/CAM systems on the market.

In the late 2010s and early 2020s, development marched on to keep pace with industry trends. Schott Systeme introduced enhancements for high-speed machining (HSC/HPC), trochoidal milling (an advanced toolpath for efficient material removal), and further refinements in multi-axis machining. Version 3.7 and 3.8 brought incremental improvements, and by 2020 the software had integrated support for mesh modeling as well – useful as 3D scanning and STL meshes became common in engineering. The user interface and performance also saw upgrades, but always in an evolutionary way that existing users could adapt to easily.

As of 2024, Schott Systeme has unveiled Pictures by PC version 3.10, coinciding with the company’s 40th anniversary. The latest version underscores continuity: even after four decades, the product is still recognizable to someone who used it years ago, yet it embraces modern computing power. It remains a fully integrated CAD/CAM/graphics solution, now native in 64-bit and optimized for contemporary Windows 10/11 systems. Users can tackle everything from simple 2D drafting to complex 5-axis machining of freeform shapes with this single software. The evolution of Pictures by PCis a rare example of software longevity – where one product family has been continuously developed for over forty years without a break. This continuity means long-time customers have been able to carry their data forward across generations of the software. In fact, Schott Systeme has demonstrated that a 2D drawing made today in version 3.10 could still be opened in the very first version from the 1980s, and vice versa, illustrating extraordinary backward compatibility. That kind of consistency in development, led by the same core team since the beginning, is virtually unheard of in the CAD/CAM industry.

Business Profile and Market Presence

Schott Systeme GmbH has maintained a distinctive business profile as a smaller, independent software vendor thriving in a world of larger competitors. The company is privately owned (still led by its founder Hans-Joachim Schott) and has grown organically since 1983 without outside acquisition. While exact revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, Schott Systeme’s longevity and continued product development speak to a sustainable business model with a loyal customer base. The firm primarily serves small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in manufacturing and design fields – companies that need high-end CAD/CAM capabilities but appreciate cost-effectiveness and personal support. Over the years, Schott Systeme has accumulated users not just in Germany, but across Europe and beyond. Through trade shows and word of mouth, Pictures by PC found its way into machine shops and design studios in countries like Italy, France, the UK, and as far afield as Asia and North America. The software’s user base, while modest compared to giants like AutoCAD or SolidWorks, is dedicated. Many clients have been using Pictures by PC for decades and have stuck with it as it evolved.

One notable aspect of Schott Systeme’s business approach is its pricing and licensing model. Pictures by PC is sold as a traditional perpetual license, which is becoming increasingly rare in the CAD/CAM world. The company offers the software as a one-time purchase (with different configurations or modules as needed) rather than a subscription. As of recent information, the standard CAD/CAM package has been priced around €9,800 (Euros) for a full license, with the optional 5-axis simultaneous machining module at roughly €2,500. While this is a substantial upfront cost, the value becomes clear considering what’s included: that price covers the entire suite (CAD, 2.5D and 3D CAM, multi-axis support, graphics, etc.) and, crucially, it comes without ongoing maintenance fees. In an era when most vendors charge 20% per year for maintenance or enforce subscription renewals, Schott Systeme’s policy stands out. Once you buy Pictures by PC, you receive support and updates without an annual contract. In fact, all software updates have historically been free for existing users. The company does not charge for new versions; customers who bought the software decades ago have been able to update to the latest version with no additional license fee. This has cultivated enormous goodwill and loyalty among users, as it significantly lowers the total cost of ownership.

Geographically, Schott Systeme’s strongest market is in the German-speaking region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) where the company’s reputation was built. Germany’s many small manufacturing firms and tool shops provided a natural customer base. The company also actively participated in major European trade fairs like EuroMold(focused on moldmaking and tooling) and EMO Hannover (a premier machine-tool exhibition), which helped raise its profile in Europe. By maintaining an presence at these shows year after year, Schott Systeme gained customers in sectors like automotive supply (for example, German automotive suppliers have used Pictures by PC for making tooling and fixtures) and general machine building. Additionally, the firm has reached international markets by attending overseas exhibitions such as AsiaMold in China and Die & Mould India. These efforts indicate that while Schott Systeme is a German company at heart, it views itself as a global supplier. There are distribution partners and resellers in various countries who offer Pictures by PC alongside CNC machinery – for instance, some CNC machine manufacturers in Europe bundle or recommend Pictures by PC as the software to program their machines.

In terms of business indicators like user numbers, Schott Systeme has not publicly stated a total count of licenses, but it’s clear that the user community, though smaller than those of mainstream CAD giants, is very stable. The software’s longevity is partly due to this stable niche: many users stick with it year after year rather than switching, because it fulfills their needs and the cost of ownership remains low (no forced upgrades or fees). It’s also noteworthy that Schott Systeme’s workforce is relatively small. The company operates out of its development center in Gilching (near Munich) and likely has on the order of a few dozen employees. Despite its size, it manages all core functions in-house – from software development and QA to customer support and training. This lean structure may be one reason they can afford to provide free support: the same engineers who develop the software often directly assist users, creating a very knowledgeable support pipeline without a massive support staff overhead.

From a financial perspective, Schott Systeme’s strategy seems to prioritize sustainable growth over rapid expansion. By keeping customers happy (through free support and updates), they ensure repeat business in terms of new module sales or new license sales via referrals. The company may not be chasing hyper-growth, but it has demonstrated consistent performance: still in business after 40 years, still releasing new versions of its product, and still privately owned by its founder. In the CAD/CAM market, which has seen many independent developers get acquired by larger corporations, Schott Systeme’s independent status is a significant part of its business identity. It means the company can chart its own course and maintain policies – like the free updates – that might not be tolerated under a more profit-driven corporate ownership. This independence, however, also means Schott Systeme isn’t a household name worldwide; it’s a specialist player with a strong reputation in its corner of the industry.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Over the decades, Schott Systeme has engaged in various partnerships and collaborations, even though it has never undergone any mergers or major acquisitions. The company’s collaborations tend to be strategic alliances that extend the reach of Pictures by PC into new markets or integrate it with complementary technologies. One key area of partnership has been with machine tool manufacturers and distributors. Because Pictures by PC is a CAD/CAM solution that directly drives CNC machines, Schott Systeme often works closely with machine builders to ensure compatibility and optimized workflows. For example, the German CNC manufacturer isel GmbH (a maker of milling machines and routers) lists Pictures by PC as a recommended CAM software for its equipment. isel and other machine suppliers act as resellers, bundling Schott Systeme’s software with their hardware or referring customers to it. These partnerships benefit both sides: machine vendors can offer a ready-made software solution to their clients, and Schott Systeme gains access to those vendors’ customer networks.

Another form of collaboration is Schott Systeme’s involvement in industry associations and events. Notably, Hans-Joachim Schott (the founder and MD) was a key member of the EuroMold exhibition’s committee in the 2000s. EuroMold, which was a leading international trade fair for moldmaking, rapid prototyping, and product development, served as a major platform for Pictures by PC. Hans-Joachim Schott worked with the organizer (DEMAT GmbH) not only to exhibit his company’s software, but also to shape the event itself – he was involved in organizing the prestigious EuroMold Awards (sometimes dubbed the “Oscars for Product Development”). Through this engagement, Schott Systeme built relationships with other innovators in the field. As Hans-Joachim Schott remarked about EuroMold’s impact on his company, “We have maintained a close relationship with EuroMold and have been continually inspired by the exhibition over the years.” This kind of collaboration kept Schott Systeme at the forefront of industry trends and gave it visibility among cutting-edge manufacturers. The company has also presented at specialized forums like the “design + engineering forum” at trade shows, emphasizing themes like “Design to Machining – a single solution,” which reinforced their integrated solution message to a broader audience of engineers and designers.

One of the most significant collaborative avenues for Schott Systeme has been its OEM partnerships, especially in niche industries such as dental technology and orthopedics. Thanks to the open and modular architecture of Pictures by PC, external partners have been able to develop customized solutions for specific tasks (for instance, dental crown design and milling) on top of Schott’s platform. In these arrangements, Schott Systeme provides the underlying software engine – the geometry kernel, toolpath calculation algorithms, etc. – while the partner may build a special user interface or additional features tailored to the niche. During the 2000s, this approach led Schott Systeme to become one of the leading providers of CAD/CAM technology for OEM projects in the dental and medical fields. A dental-system manufacturer, for example, could license the Pictures by PC kernel and incorporate it into a product that dentists or dental labs use to design and mill teeth restorations. The end users of those OEM products might not even know that Schott Systeme’s technology is inside, as it could be rebranded under the partner’s name. Nonetheless, these collaborations expanded Schott’s reach significantly. It’s reported that some of the first PC-based dental CAD/CAM solutions in Europe were built on Pictures by PC. Similarly, in orthopedic implant production, where custom shapes and machining are required, the flexibility of Schott’s software allowed partners to create custom CAD/CAM applications for things like artificial joints or prosthetic components.

Besides formal partnerships, Schott Systeme’s collaboration ethos extends to its customer relationships. The company has a practice of closely listening to user feedback and often integrating user-requested features into new releases. In effect, many long-term customers act as informal collaborators, guiding the product’s development. Schott’s team often works hands-on with certain key clients (for instance, advanced users in automotive or aerospace sectors) to pilot new features or tailor specific solutions. This collaborative development style has yielded features like advanced post-processor customization and automation routines within Pictures by PC. Over time, Schott Systeme has built up standard post-processor configurations for a wide array of CNC machine controllers – from common controls like Fanuc and Siemens, to more exotic or older machines. They achieved this partly by working with machine tool partners and partly by customizing posts for customers on request. Now those posts come included for free with the software, benefiting the entire user community.

It’s worth noting what is not in Schott Systeme’s history: unlike many peers, it has never been acquired by a larger CAD conglomerate. The company has remained fiercely independent. There were periods in the CAD/CAM industry – especially in the 1990s and 2000s – when bigger companies were snapping up smaller CAD/CAM firms to consolidate the market. Schott Systeme managed to avoid that fate, likely by maintaining a steady business and a unique niche. This means Pictures by PC never had to undergo rebranding or an abrupt rewrite to fit into a bigger corporation’s product line. For users, that stability has been reassuring; they know who they are dealing with and have direct access to the software’s creators. In a market sense, Schott Systeme’s independence and strong partner network (rather than corporate ownership) is a double-edged sword: it doesn’t have the huge marketing machine of a multinational behind it, but it also doesn’t answer to shareholders demanding ever-higher profits. Thus, the company can make unorthodox decisions like continuing to support very old versions or not charging for updates, which endear it to customers.

Innovations and Unique Strengths

Over its long development history, Pictures by PC has introduced or maintained several innovations and unique strengths that distinguish it in the CAD/CAM arena. Some of the most notable strengths of the system include:

Integrated CAD, CAM, Graphics, and Documentation: Perhaps the most obvious unique feature is the sheer scope of Pictures by PC. It’s rare to find one software package that can equally serve as a vector graphics design tool, a full 3D CAD modeler, a photo-realistic renderer, and a multi-axis CAM program. Users don’t have to juggle different software for design, analysis, and manufacturing; Pictures by PC aims to be a one-stop solution. This integration streamlines the workflow and reduces compatibility headaches. For example, there is no need to export a model to another CAM software for toolpath generation – the CAM module reads the native model directly. Similarly, when creating technical documentation, the 2D drawings or 3D views come straight from the design data, ensuring consistency. This holistic approach was part of the founders’ vision from the beginning and remains a core strength.
Open System Architecture with Programmability: Schott Systeme built Pictures by PC on an open architecture, meaning it’s highly extensible and customizable. All functions of the software are accessible, and users can even tap into the software’s “source” at a scripting level. Advanced users and system integrators can write macros or scripts to automate complex sequences – essentially programming the software to perform customized tasks. The company even allows integrating external modules or creating standalone solutions (as evidenced by the OEM dental applications). This openness is unusual in the CAD/CAM world, where many systems are closed black boxes. It gives Pictures by PC a degree of future-proofing: users can adapt it to new requirements without waiting for the vendor’s next release. One customer described that “all the software’s functions are accessible as source code so they can be easily adapted,” highlighting how this enables automation and customization. For example, a mold maker can script a routine to automatically generate a whole set of machining operations for a new mold, significantly saving programming time. This “programmability” was one of the two founding principles (along with openness) laid down by Schott and Greverus back in 1983, and it continues to benefit users today.
Longevity and Backward Compatibility: The continuity of Pictures by PC is itself an innovation. The fact that the software has evolved for 40 years on a single codebase means that it has an extraordinary level of backward compatibility. Companies that started using it in the 1980s or 90s can still open and use their old project files on the latest version. Investments in training and customization made decades ago are not lost. This is in stark contrast to many other CAD/CAM tools that have undergone disruptive changes or been sunset and replaced by new platforms, forcing users to migrate data or retrain. Schott Systeme’s approach has been more incremental and conservative – they add features and modernize under the hood, but they don’t throw away legacy functionality lightly. As a result, Pictures by PC is considered one of the most “mature” CAD/CAM systems. It’s battle-tested, with many of its bugs ironed out over years, and new features tend to be added in a way that doesn’t break old ones. Some users joke that it’s the “classic car” of CAD/CAM software: well-built, reliable, and only improving with age.
Comprehensive CNC Machining Capabilities: On the CAM side, Pictures by PC covers a breadth of machining methods that few single packages do. Out-of-the-box, it supports milling (2.5D, 3D), drilling, engraving, and 3+2 axis machining (where a 5-axis machine is used in a indexed way). With additional modules, it handles 5-axis simultaneous milling, turning (lathe operations), combined turn-mill, and wire EDM cutting. Essentially, one software can program a wide variety of machine types – mills, lathes, wire cutters, laser/plasma cutters, etc. This is a huge strength for a machine shop that has diverse equipment: the shop can standardize on one CAM software for all their programming needs, rather than buying separate software for each machine type. Moreover, Pictures by PC includes a large library of post-processors (the translators that convert toolpaths to specific machine code) for free. Many competitors charge extra for each post-processor or for developing a custom post. Schott Systeme’s policy has been to include standard post-processors at no cost and even adapt them to unusual or older machines on request. This means even if a user has an exotic CNC machine, they can likely get Pictures by PC to output the correct code without expensive consultancy. The depth of CAM features is also impressive: the software has high-speed machining strategies (e.g., trochoidal milling for efficient clearing of material), rest-material detection (finding leftover material after roughing to clean up with smaller tools), and advanced 5-axis tactics like projection milling. These capabilities put it on par with well-known CAM specialist systems in terms of technical sophistication.
Integration of Design and Manufacturing (Feature Recognition & Automation): Schott Systeme has focused on bridging the gap between design and manufacturing through smart features. One example is automatic feature recognition in CAM: Pictures by PC can analyze a solid model and automatically identify features like pockets, slots, and holes that need machining. It can then suggest or apply machining strategies for those features (for instance, recognizing a series of holes and automatically programming a drilling cycle for them, sorted by depth or orientation). This kind of automation significantly reduces NC programming time, letting the software handle routine decisions and freeing the human programmer to focus on more complex operations. Additionally, because the CAD and CAM are unified, if a design change is made to the model, the CAM toolpaths can update associatively, preventing mistakes where a part was machined to an old revision. These integrated features are a strength for companies striving for “design-to-manufacture” workflows.
Technical Documentation and Graphics Tools: Uniquely, Pictures by PC includes robust graphic design tools normally found in dedicated graphic software. It supports Bezier curves, can import/export Adobe Illustrator files, and has advanced typography controls (kerning, multi-column text layout, TrueType/PostScript font support). This means an engineer can design not just the part, but also the visual materials around the part – marketing flyers, assembly diagrams, etc. within the same software. The ability to produce a complete technical manual (with vector illustrations drawn from the CAD data and text laid out nicely) without leaving Pictures by PC is a niche advantage. It eliminates the need for a separate desktop publishing tool for many tasks. For companies with small teams, having one software that can generate both the CNC code and the product brochure is a cost saver and ensures visual consistency (the 3D rendering used in the brochure is directly from the CAD model, for example). This blend of CAD/CAM and DTP (desktop publishing) capabilities is a legacy of the software’s origin in the graphics realm, and Schott Systeme has retained and improved these features over time.
Customer-Friendly Business Model: While not a technical feature, the business model of Schott Systeme is itself a unique strength from a user’s perspective. The company’s practice of free lifetime support and free software updates is virtually unheard of in the industry. There are cases of users who bought the software once and have received assistance and new versions for ten or twenty years without extra charges. This policy turns out to be a strong selling point – it lowers the barrier for small companies to invest in Pictures by PC because they know there won’t be hidden costs down the line. Schott Systeme’s support is known to be very direct and expert. Customers often get to speak with the actual developers or highly knowledgeable staff when they call for help. This means issues get resolved quickly and suggestions sometimes directly reach the development team. Users often cite this as one of the reasons they stick with Pictures by PC instead of switching to perhaps more famous software: Pictures by PC might not have the marketing glitz, but when you need help, you talk to someone who likely wrote the code and genuinely cares about solving your problem. It creates a partnership-like relationship between the vendor and users.

In summary, Pictures by PC’s key innovations lie in its all-in-one nature, its openness and flexibility, and its user-oriented practices. It may not have the flashy name recognition of some competitors, but those who use it often become passionate advocates. The system’s unique combination of CAD, CAM, and graphics, plus its long-term consistency and cost benefits, give it a kind of cult status among certain circles of engineers and machinists. As one automotive tooling specialist put it in a testimonial, Pictures by PC offers an “excellent price-performance ratio” and the “free, competent and very fast support is unbeatable.” These strengths collectively explain how Schott Systeme has kept this 1980s-born software relevant and competitive well into the 21st century.

Leadership and Company Philosophy

The leadership of Schott Systeme, particularly founder and managing director Hans-Joachim Schott, has always espoused a clear philosophy: prioritize the user’s benefits and keep the technology adaptable. This ethos is encapsulated in the company’s long-standing motto, “Software Benefits not Software Costs.” Hans-Joachim Schott often emphasizes that software should serve the customers’ productivity rather than burden them with expenses. In practice, this philosophy influenced everything from the product’s feature set (making sure each new feature genuinely helps users do something better or faster) to the business model (avoiding mandatory maintenance fees). It’s a mantra that the company has stood by for 40 years, signalling that delivering value to the user comes before maximizing profit.

Another pillar of Schott Systeme’s philosophy, championed by Schott and his co-founder Greverus, is maintaining an engineer’s mindset within the company. The top management has a technical background and stays closely involved in product development. Hans-Joachim Schott isn’t a distant CEO; he’s very much an expert in CAD/CAM himself and remains in tune with what his users are trying to accomplish. This leads to decisions that sometimes buck industry trends. For example, when most competitors started pushing customers into yearly subscription models, Schott Systeme held firm to their update-inclusive license model. Internally, the leadership believed that if they keep making Pictures by PC better, customers will stick around willingly without needing to be locked in by contracts. So far, that belief has been validated by their retention of long-term users.

The company’s leadership also has a forward-looking yet practical approach to innovation. Instead of chasing buzzwords, Schott Systeme has tended to incorporate new technology in ways that directly help their user base. For instance, when 5-axis machining became important, they didn’t just add the feature; they also made sure to include ready-to-use post-processors and safety features like automatic retraction zones to help users adopt 5-axis safely. When asked about how the company decides what to develop next, Hans-Joachim Schott has pointed to user feedback and industry developments as the guiding lights. He has been quoted as saying that many refinements in Pictures by PCover the years come directly from listening to the machinists and designers who use it daily, and observing trends at trade fairs and in academia. This humble, feedback-driven approach is somewhat different from bigger CAD corporations that often push technology from the top down.

Despite being a smaller player, Schott Systeme’s leadership has shown a knack for identifying niche opportunities. Hans-Joachim Schott and his team recognized early on, for example, that their software’s flexibility made it suitable as an OEM kernel. Not every CAD company would allow their product to be used behind the scenes in another company’s solution. But Schott saw this as a win-win: it brought revenue and technological cross-pollination. In an interview-style presentation, Hans-Joachim Schott explained that by working with partners in specialized fields, they also learned new use cases and demands, which in turn helped make Pictures by PC a better product for all users. It reflects a philosophy of collaboration over competition; Schott Systeme didn’t hesitate to collaborate even with companies that in a sense compete (since an OEM partner could have chosen a different CAD kernel). This openness originates from the leadership’s confidence in their product’s adaptability and their genuine desire to solve problems, whether or not they get public credit for it.

One hallmark of Schott’s leadership style is stability. Hans-Joachim Schott has been at the helm for the entire history of the company, providing continuity. He’s now guided the firm through four decades of technological change, which is an achievement in itself. There’s also a family aspect – while not much is public, the company has the feel of a tight-knit team, with very low turnover. Many of the developers and support staff have been there for years, some likely since the early days. This stable environment is fostered by leadership that values long-term commitment. It’s not uncommon for Hans-Joachim Schott to personally know key customers and vice versa. In an age of impersonal tech giants, that personal touch in leadership filters down to how the company interacts with everyone.

To illustrate the company philosophy in Hans-Joachim Schott’s own words, he once addressed long-time users at an anniversary gathering, reaffirming that “our goal has always been to provide a single solution from design to machining that grows with you.” This statement reflects the essence of Pictures by PC: a single solution, and one that grows with the user (in capabilities, but not in cost or complexity). The phrase “grows with you” is particularly apt – many customers started with perhaps just 2D drawing on Pictures by PC in the 1980s, then moved into 3D CAD, then into CAM, and the software was able to support each step of their growth without them ever having to switch platforms. That customer journey is something the leadership is clearly proud of.

In conclusion, the leadership and vision behind Pictures by PC can be summed up as user-focused and principle-driven. Hans-Joachim Schott and his team have proven that a small company can survive and thrive by sticking to its core values. Those values – an open, powerful product and a fair, supportive relationship with users – have created a legacy in the CAD/CAM world. The software itself is an embodiment of that legacy, carrying forward the imprint of its leadership’s philosophy. As Schott Systeme often reminds clients and prospects, the company sells benefits, not just software. And indeed, to many of its users, Pictures by PC is more than just a software tool – it’s a trusted partner in their daily work, one that has been remarkably consistent from the age of the floppy disk to the era of cloud computing.

Vendor: Schott Systeme GmbH