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Illustrator Plugins

WildWestDesigns

WildWestDesigns

Active Member
I just wanted to see what everyone was using in the way of plugins for Illustrator. What really worked well, what didn't etc.

Right now I only use 2 plugins, MaPublisher and CutStudio(came with the GX-24). No complaints from either one, but I was just wondering from those that do graphics work especially any plugins that are really good for workflow or have those "special features" that just don't come with Illustrator but should?

In the next couple of months, I will be branching out by getting the Master Suite of CS5, so if anyone has any advice on plugins for those I would appreciate it. Only programs that I have previous experience with is Illustrator(duh), Photoshop, and Dreamweaver(actually when it was still with Macromedia), but I just have too many people wanting me to do more, so I need to branch out.

Thanks for the input.
 
Fred Weiss

Fred Weiss

Merchant Member
We have a freeware plugin named Select that I use all the time. It expands the Illustrator Select menu to include a number of object attributes ... speeding up the selection process. Also a handy script for finding and removing invisible paths in Illustrator. Both can be downloaded HERE.
 
phototec

phototec

New Member
Favorite plug-in's for Adobe Illustrator

My all time favorite plug-in for Adobe Illustrator is CADtools, you can draw in any scale, edit and dimension artwork with a mouse click, and numerically control objects or points. Click and drag with 67 tools to make design work easy and elegant. CADtools 7 taps the precision power of Adobe Illustrator - a design trade secret for 13 years! The auto dimensioning feature is really great!

https://www.hotdoor.com/index.php?content=cadtools&navcontent=cadtools


And my second favorite is Cutting Master 2 from Grapthec, a FREE plug-in that allows you to send any Illustrator design directly to your Graphtec cutter, no need for any other software to cut vinyl, It also works with CorelDraw. It is very powerful and easy to use.

http://www.graphtecamerica.com/FAQs/cutting_master2.html
 
WildWestDesigns

WildWestDesigns

Active Member
Fred Weiss said:
We have a freeware plugin named Select that I use all the time. It expands the Illustrator Select menu to include a number of object attributes ... speeding up the selection process. Also a handy script for finding and removing invisible paths in Illustrator. Both can be downloaded HERE.
Click to expand...


Cool. I'll be checking that out for sure. Thanks for the heads up.
 
WildWestDesigns

WildWestDesigns

Active Member
phototec said:
My all time favorite plug-in for Adobe Illustrator is CADtools, you can draw in any scale, edit and dimension artwork with a mouse click, and numerically control objects or points. Click and drag with 67 tools to make design work easy and elegant. CADtools 7 taps the precision power of Adobe Illustrator - a design trade secret for 13 years! The auto dimensioning feature is really great!

https://www.hotdoor.com/index.php?content=cadtools&navcontent=cadtools
Click to expand...

I think I saw a post related to this in here. I'm just not familiar with that one.


The Vector Doctor said:
This is also a source. I like the cmyk to pms script part way down
http://vectips.com/tricks/10-free-an...rator-scripts/
Click to expand...

I saw some in there that I could for sure use. Thanks.
 
SebastienL

SebastienL

New Member
+1 here for CadTool. It is a must if you do plans. I use it most every day... saves me from the pita that is Autocad.
 
WildWestDesigns

WildWestDesigns

Active Member
SebastienL said:
+1 here for CadTool. It is a must if you do plans. I use it most every day... saves me from the pita that is Autocad.
Click to expand...


I've done more maps then plans, but I'll give it a look. The ole ball and chains brother likes AutoCAD, I don't have any experience with it personally.

Fred: I have used the T-Shirt template that's on the exchange, but at the time that I was there last, I wasn't thinking about the other programs. My photoshop work has been very minimal at best. Most of my work is actually done out of Illustrator.
 
Fred Weiss

Fred Weiss

Merchant Member
WildWestDesigns said:
Fred: I have used the T-Shirt template that's on the exchange, but at the time that I was there last, I wasn't thinking about the other programs. My photoshop work has been very minimal at best. Most of my work is actually done out of Illustrator.
Click to expand...

Just click the Illustrator link in the application listings and it takes you to the various plugins and add ons for that application.
 
phototec

phototec

New Member
Fred Weiss said:
Just click the Illustrator link in the application listings and it takes you to the various plugins and add ons for that application.
Click to expand...

Just an observation, but out of the 43 Illustrator plug-ins available in the Adobe Exchange, 32 are for Mac ONLY, that should speak volumes to the on-going debate of the PC vs the Mac in the graphic design world (almost 75% for Mac only).
 
WildWestDesigns

WildWestDesigns

Active Member
phototec said:
Just an observation, but out of the 43 Illustrator plug-ins available in the Adobe Exchange, 32 are for Mac ONLY, that should speak volumes to the on-going debate of the PC vs the Mac in the graphic design world (almost 75% for Mac only).
Click to expand...


Oh, no question that the MAC has a foothold within the design world. I'm not much of a fan of their computers or laptops. I have one and it's alright, but I still prefer the old PC. Maybe it's because I'm used to it, maybe I can just tweak things a little bit better for it. I dunno.
 
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