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.

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
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Anonymous commented
My office uses a combination of corel draw and adobe products. We currently have (3) seats with Adobe and use the HotDoor plug in. It is ridiculously expensive. We have recently been seriously tossing around the idea of dropping Adobe for Corel because of this issue. This thread has been going for a long time now with no success or explanation from Adobe that I am aware of. Might just be time to move on.
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Richard Geoffrion commented
We need a tool that measures horizontal and vertical lengths as well as angles, angular lengths, radii and diameters. This tool should be compatible with ANSI and ISO standards.
It’s really ridiculous to have to pay $350 for a tool that has been around for decades on Corel. Wondering why I don’t go to Corel? This is what I have been asking my employer without success for years. Which one, between you or my employer, will move first? -
Manuel Garcia commented
It would be really helpful to have a complementary scaling system with the most common scales used in architecture and industrial design and the change of adding your own scales. allowing in that way to scale your artwork while keeling the dimensions showed in the measuring notes.
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Manuel Garcia commented
It would be really helpful to have a complementary scale system that allows you to adapt your design to the different scales at the same time that keeps the dimension notes.
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Jonny commented
Being in the sign industry an automatic measure tool is essential, it takes me twice as long to produce detailed layouts for clients and installers... I cant see how hard it would be to add!!......... Corel has had it for years!!
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Derek Jenkins commented
You'd think after 3 years they'd have the info they need....
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Oliver Malms commented
even Inkscape has it built in...
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Jason Wissig commented
So remodeling the design studio today and the boss asked to see dimensions of everything on this drawing. Sure would be nice to have those dimensioning tools. I should have used Corel.
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Anonymous commented
Yea, just add it in already, why need to use a third party or another app along with this. Efficiency Adobe, add it in. Don't overcomplicate simple things.
This feature is important even for graphic designers that does signage work sometimes. Thank you.
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Zaglbauer commented
The extension Dimensions Powerscript mentioned by Oliver works very fine. And at a very, very reasonable price..
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Oliver Malms commented
until Adobe comes up with something, I use this one:
https://o2creative.co.nz/Dimensions_PowerScript_Plugin_Extension_for_Adobe_Illustrator.php
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Justin commented
Why this hasn't been added is a mystery. Part of my work involves event signage that is to scale and therefore requires dimensions. This all has to be laid out manually and is a monumental waste of time pulling out lines, adding arrows, text boxes and inputting numbers. I used to have a CAD plugin some years ago, which was overkill but definitely elements of which Adobe should be introducing.
Horizontal and vertical dimensions (and if those lines are rotated, the dimension shouldn't change!)
Internal/external angles
Radii
Diameter
Circumference
Distance between objects (empty space)Drag a dimension line away from what it's measuring and the start/end lines perpendicular to the dimension line (the extension lines) get longer (so you easily see what the dimension line is referring to on the drawing).
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Jonny commented
Im in the signage and print industry and this tool would save so much time, its one of the most frustrating things not to have. Come on adobe come to the party and save us......and my blood pressure.
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Vasja commented
Cant belive CorelDraw had this feature years ago and Adobe has not picked it up.
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Anonymous commented
You don't need more details............ Put in a dimension tool for us................ The jpg in the original post tells you everything you need to know. Plus radius/ diameter tools too.
Why so against a dimension tool guys? No one has ever answered that question as far as i know! -
Uwe Busch commented
could be simple like in Corel.
It´s essential!! -
Richard commented
The measuring tool and art board size mentioned on this are my biggest problems working with Illustrator. Almost every design program I've worked with (except Adobe programs) have these. Which are daily used and affect entire work flow. So I'm forced to choose to use other programs or hinder the speed to finish a project.
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Anonymous commented
Hey, since so many years people ask for a measurement tool in Ai, it would be soo great if you guys would bring it in. I know, it is not ment to be a construction programm, but as i´m a shop window creator, we create with Ai and PS and i would be great just to make easily a plan for he constructors or even size discriptions for large banner printing and so on...
So please bring it up the sky!!!
Thank you! -
Shawn commented
Requiring overly detailed explanations allows them to push the can down the road. There are numerous plugins that have been referenced, dozens of other applications in the market (that haven't been around nearly as long as Illustrator) with these tools, and plenty of responses spelling out what the basic functionality could/should look like.
There are already measuring tools inside Illustrator which will show length and angle, they just need to organize a new interface to display that information as an overlay. It would be incredible if they were able to incorporate more parametric functionality, but let's start crawling before trying to run a marathon...
Also, claiming AI isn't a technical drawing software and scripts are the answer is about the most short-sighted response I can imagine. Why add any new features if there are scripts out there you can learn to write yourself‽ (Just keep paying Adobe and spending your valuable time learning script languages instead of being a designer or illustrator, etc...) -
DrMissile commented
"We DoNt UnDeRstaNd feATuRe ReQueSTs WithouT a FuLl deSiGn BrieF, PlS clARifY" - Adobe
This is feature request equivalent of the "Check to see if your graphics card drivers are up to date for this 20 year old Photoshop bug."
Please read comments and use common sense.