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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Richard Geoffrion commented
Illustrator is not a technical drawing software and Hotdoor add-in do the job, even if it is frustrating to pay twice.
I think a simple series of scripts can do the job for what we usually need.
A series of scripts to linear dimensions align dimension, radius dimensions, diameter dimensions and angle dimensions can do the job if they respect ANSI standards.
A well-commented script is easy to customize and could be an introduction to learn the script editing.
Answer for the Sharma question:
No, it is not enough for a dimension takes in Adobe XD service. Often, we need dimensions on the artwork with a highly graphic quality. -
Nori Crosland commented
Very basic CAD tools built in to illustrator would make Illustrator even more amazing. Tools such as the ability to change the dimension of simple shapes (length of line, radius/diameter of a circle, etc) after it has been drawn and then the ability to constrain it. Also, placing automatic dimensions (linear and angular) and measuring would be sweet tools. Sometimes I need my shape or lines to be a certain length or constrained to a certain angle and I have no way of doing this easily at the moment from within illustrator. Currently, I'm importing a dxf file from CAD software and it still gets hosed up. It's time consuming and I'm ripping my hair out trying to fix things that didn't translate well. Thank you for the consideration!
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Anonymous commented
Hi, Yoogesh, I am very late on this. I am working in the packaging design industry. And what I do to measure and mark the dimension is first to do the KLD in CorelDraw and measuring and marking the dimensions using the DIMENSIONS TOOLS (Parallel Dimension works fine for me) and then export the artwork as EPS into Illustrator.
The measurements are very important in packaging design. I think it's high time companies like you understand the user base and understand their needs.
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Christa commented
Yes, please. Add dimensions. I'm making this **** manually and it takes so much time for something that should obviously be part of the app. Click on end points shift/drag to pull out a measurement. Angles and curves would be great, but right now I'd be thrilled if I could just do this on regular horizontal and vertical lines.
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Anonymous commented
We keep asking, whats the problem Adobe?????????????
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David Cuesta commented
Dear Yogesh,
Do you still need more info? Go try to do it yourself. It's a basic thing. Make something and then dimension it. It's not like you need to user test it on 10,000 users, its a pretty basic thing.
Basic conceptual Workflow:
- Draw a square
- Draw a line down one side
- Put in a measurement that says how tall the square is.If you can get the computer to learn the dimension of the square bonus!
Same concept for angles, circles, extrusions etc.
And again just to say no separate services, this should be a tool and a panel.
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Ryan commented
I have been wanting this feature for well over a decade -- Please ADD!
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Anonymous commented
Recently broke down and purchased CADTools because the need for dimensional tools had grown so much. It has been super buggy and causes the occasional crash. The time that it saves though is monumental, even with the issues. There has to be some other underlying issue as to why this has not been added? Then we cant even get a response from Adobe on this topic?? Im not wearing my foil hat yet, but what is the deal?? It just seams so simple... especially if Corel can do it??
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Anonymous commented
The dimension tool would save literally hours for me. I work as a graphic designer for retail, exhibition, signage and wayfinding and all require clearly marked dimensions for artwork and communication to vendors. The need and hope for Adobe to add this to Illustrator has not changed for me in 10+ years. I hope we can have a solution to this soon!
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Paula commented
Come on Adobe, we need dimensioning tools to do our job! We're using AI to draw very precise dies and need to verify that every part of our drawing meets our customers specs. Please add dimensioning tools to the software now.
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Joe Poelzl commented
Look at ANY cad software that offers dimensioning, and those are the tools you need in Illustrator (AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit, etc). As long as everyone in this forum is so quick to suggest CADtools, how about starting with just mimicking those tools inside Illustrator? Why keep developing other tools each year that no one asked for, and ignore the thing that has been demanded for 10 years now? If you can't do that, just buy HotDoor. You have all the money. --- "Adobe achieved record annual revenue of $11.17 billion in fiscal year 2019, representing 24 percent year-over-year growth."
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Heksel commented
Considering the response from the staff above, it really surprises me. Please open CorelDraw and try their Dimension tool and it makes Illustrator like an ancient software. This feature has been available in CorelDraw for years, I wonder what the Illustrator staffs are doing.
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David Cuesta commented
- According to me this HAS to be in illustrator and not separate.
- Angles are good idea, but primarily it's width and length.
- Isometric 45° or 30° tool for 3D illustrations would also be hella useful.
- As mentioned before look at the way fusion 360 sketch tool works. Or even Sketch Up measure tool. -
Anonymous commented
I work for a very large Grocery co-op, and I manage the branding and decor for the stores. I deal with a lot of different media, materials and vendors ranging from interior sign design, digital content, exterior signs, displays and promotional material.
When spec'ing, bidding or manufacturing/fabricating, it is EXTREMELY important to supply measurements and dimensions. I also work in CAD. Which as we all know, you can click on 2 points and a dimension line shows up, showing the distance or length between 2 points or object. It is a simple tool and a simple function. YES, there are multiple plugins. I use a script called SPECIFY. BUT if there is a plug in, there is a way to create a function within the program.......Right?
Today's world is much faster pace and more digitally functional than the days of old, When PROOFS were gold....Today, I need to send a file and it needs to be produced within hours. It would be very helpful to be incorporate a dimensioning tool. AS EVERY ONE else in this thread has asked, and I have seen this request for YEARS!!!!!!!
Much the same as 'leaders' that would be equally as helpful in specifying colors, and material callouts, for
various purposes during the design phase. ADOBE DEVELOPERS.....PLEASE TAKE THIS REQUEST SERIOUSLY....IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS GREATLY NEEDED.THIS INITIAL THREAD WAS FROM 2017........and we are still asking.......3 years later......so the need is obviously not going away!
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Anonymous commented
I work for a very large Grocery co-op, and I manage the branding and decor for the stores. I deal with a lot of different media, materials and vendors ranging from interior sign design, digital content, exterior signs, displays and promotional material.
When spec'ing, bidding or manufacturing/fabricating, it is EXTREMELY important to supply measurements and dimensions. I also work in CAD. Which as we all know, you can click on 2 points and a dimension line shows up, showing the distance or length between 2 points or object. It is a simple tool and a simple function. YES, there are multiple plugins. I use a script called SPECIFY. BUT if there is a plug in, there is a way to create a function within the program.......Right?
Today's world is much faster pace and more digitally functional than the days of old, When PROOFS were gold....Today, I need to send a file and it needs to be produced within hours. It would be very helpful to be incorporate a dimensioning tool. AS EVERY ONE else in this thread has asked, and I have seen this request for YEARS!!!!!!!
Much the same as 'leaders' that would be equally as helpful in specifying colors, and material callouts, for
various purposes during the design phase. ADOBE DEVELOPERS.....PLEASE TAKE THIS REQUEST SERIOUSLY....IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS GREATLY NEEDED. -
Shannon OH commented
@dmg, we are all aware of how to use the measuring tools, etc. Obvious. You are missing the point of the tool we are requesting. This is kind of like how all geometry software works. You can click on an object and a measurement SHOWS on the page, this is for customers mainly for proofs, etc. I can think of many times this would be handy so that I didn't have to manually create this myself.
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JC commented
Really surprised the Adobe has not incorporate a dimensions tool by now in Illustrator.
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Anonymous commented
I know that Adobe has the ability to show the user what something measures but I need to be able to have dimensions to print to show to a customer
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Graham Jowitt commented
Agree with the majority of feedback in this thread... we are paying a premium price for a premium product ? A dimensioning tool would seem to be a very easy thing for Adobe to include, and I'm sure would increase workflow for a lot of subscribers.... me included. Please listen to your customers Adobe !
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Anonymous commented
I work for a print company and we have an external plugin but it is expensive and not always reliable, it has some issues. It makes more sense to have Adobe include this to make it hopefully better.