Automatic dimension/measuring tool please
A tool to automatically dimension signs would be an advantage to those of us working in the sign industry who create visuals for clients. It would also assist in maintaining accuracy of the artwork created and automatic checking device. This with the removal of the artboard size limitation would create a full working drawing platform for the manufacture of large signs for the retail industry.
TracyB
shared this idea
A couple of questions on this:
1. Would it be okay to have a separate spec creation service much like the upcoming Adobe XD service? On this service, anyone with a link, can select any objects, and view its dimensions (W/H), colors, fonts etc. Or should it be inside Illustrator.
2. Are you only going to create horizontal, and vertical dimensions? Or would you also like to have angular dimensions as well?
Please share more details about your workflow.
Thanks,
Yogesh
-
Ryan Terzaghi
commented
Would love to change my workflow from flexi to adobe, the dimension tool is THE TOOL that is missing for us to make the change.
-
Bob
commented
Acrobat Pro has the exact same thing in it's Measure tool. Be nice to bring that function to Illustrator.
-
DShealey
commented
Still: Just acquire HotDoor as a company. Our company doesn't update Ai until CADTools updates, and then we still do double-install to test things for a time to make sure nothing is breaking.
-
Michael Walz
commented
Another vote for "Keep it inside Illustrator" and don't part it out to another program. This adds unnecessary time and workflow thought when it could be all be simpler and more intuitive inside of Illustrator.
Needs to be horizontal, vertical, and angular. Something along the lines of what CADtools can do, or SolidWorks. An option to show the measurements of radiused corners would also be nice.
-
Anonymous
commented
Yes! PLEASE add this feature! It's the one feature that I have found that Corel Draw has that Illustrator does not.
-
ritche
commented
a basic tool will really help make our workflow productive.
infinite artboard size plus automatic dimension will be a great feature for illustrator -
Ali Rehman
commented
Printable Dimension tool like corel draw tool is missing in illustrator. a tool who detect or write the dimensions of shapes
-
Daniel Shealey commented
HotDoor CADTools is the best plugin ever. Just buy them already. I mean you bought Mixamo. How often are people using that? (sorry, not sorry)
-
Jeremy
commented
Need something like the CadTools plugin does, but just simple dimensions from selected points. I.E. you click a point, and then another and AI add the measurement as art objects. You would need to incorporate scale.
-
Jorge Estigarribia
commented
second option. angular dimension is good too.
a snap horizontal and vertical and an option of free line distance for diagonal measure.
-
'Butt shapes together' by setting key object (click it) and pressing 'Distribute space' buttons:
https://imgur.com/a/UgGPM
Or, still, you mean something different?
If it is exactly you were looking for, then I'm happy for you :) Keep learning and RTFM -
Anonymous
commented
I don't think so but I will check it out. I use align and distribute all the time.
Is it able to take the right side of a square and snap it to the left side of another square? Another thing we do don't care is when both shapes move to align. We should be able to move shape "A" TO shape "B" leaving "B" in its original location. I will look to see if I'm talking out of school... -
'Butt shapes together' already exists in AI, if I got you right. It is called Distribute and located inside Align palette in expandable section. Or you mean other thing? Then please illustrate
-
Anonymous
commented
Don't make an additional app. Keep it tidy. Angle dimensions would be good. Add distance around (perimeter), figure area too.
Also need additional alignment option "butt shapes together" (Side to side, top to bottom) We have this in another app and it is great. Have only seen it in one other program and can't believe nobody else has it. Especially good for structural and fabrication design for sigange. -
Chase Parker
commented
Personally, I'd settle for vertical and horizontal dimensions. However, the ability to measure at any angle would be quite helpful.
-
Kean
commented
I would also analyze some 2D Cad tools and plugins made by third party plugin makers and big name cad programs for basic dimensioning, snapping, conversions, and other relevant tool sets. In the packaging industry, a main piece of software is ArtiosCAD and it works pretty well with illustrator but if you're receiving graphic files from designers, it often makes more sense to make some adjustments in illustrator that would be equivalent / play nice with the cad programs.
-
Dane Muldoon
commented
Simply being able to set a scale value, ie. 1mm = 100mm would be super helpful. I work at 1:100 all the time and it's pretty annoying that there isn't better support for this.
-
Anonymous
commented
As a bonus, we need to be able to set "preferred" line weights, fonts, spacing of dimensions away from copy, etc.. Must be able to make these preferences with a spot color as well as cmyk or rgb.
-
Chris Harrison
commented
I've been asking for this for years! There are 3 things fixes that would make Illustrator more the go-to program for us in the signage industry than Corel Draw if Adobe would ever listen to its customers.
1) Fix the Artboard size limitation (designing at quarter scale sucks!)
2) Add a functioning set of measurement tools which includes angular dimensioning.
3) Create the option of aligning type to the height of X.It seems that Illustrator's new features cater more towards the web creation crowd than anyone else. Adobe has looked over those of us in the sign industry for years, and although we are not a vocal bunch, I know for a fact there are tons of users in the large format industry that are waiting for these fixes as well.
-
Anonymous
commented
Should be inside illustrator
