Recommended must have Illustrator plug ins for vector art and text

[Blackie]

What are the recommended Illustrator plug ins for creating and editing vector art and text?
For example- outlining, contour outlining, kerning, node editing, text arching, scrolling, fit to path, auto corner, etc. and
any other helpful vector sign design tools I failed to mention. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

 

[Circleville Signs]

Ummm...you don't need any plugins to do that stuff- it is all basic Illy functions...

 

[Custom_Grafx]

Ummm...you don't need any plugins to do that stuff- it is all basic Illy functions...

+1

 

[John Butto]

Send me $50 and will send you those plug ins for Illustrator.

 

[Rick]

Ummm...you don't need any plugins to do that stuff- it is all basic Illy functions...

+2

Though I would recommend CADTools for designing in scale and some vector editing features.
https://www.hotdoor.com/cadtools

And VectorScribe for more advanced path editing features
http://astutegraphics.com/products/vectorscribe/

 

[Blackie]

Thank Rick for taking the first step- there are useful plug-ins out there

Illustrator is proven top of the line software for sign makers.
I am only searching for useful plug-ins that enhance Illustrator and improve productivity.
Over 100 views in the past few days is testament there is interest in constant improvement.
I apologize for my clumsy step into the House of Adobe and questioning the god Illustrator.
Please keep all the ummmmmm... responses coming.
I appreciate people who keep their heads buried in the sand.
It lowers the level of competition.

 

[CP Signs]

Ummmmmmmm, sorry, can't help,,, mostly use Corel.

 

[vid]

The bulk of what we do is still cut film, so it's nice to have vinyl color palettes to use for some continuity on the spec sheets.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_EU/3MGraphics/GraphicSolutions/Support/ColourReferences/

http://www.oracal.com/knowledge/oracolor.asp

http://www.arlon.com/SupportandTools/ArlonVinylColorPalettes.aspx​

We don't do Avery, but it'd be easy enough to make some based of this chart:

http://graphics.averydennison.com/c...n/documents/ColorSelector_Jan2013_digital.pdf
​

We're also experimenting with CoCut on a small plotter for quick cuts out of CorelDraw. It is also available for Illustrator.

http://www.cocut.com/index.dml

​

And like the others, there aren't many plugins that I use anymore with the current version of Illustrator. Those I had used in other versions, now have a similar feature integrated in the CS Illustrators. I suppose I could make a tree for presentations (found in this link with a few other others:

http://vector.tutsplus.com/articles/web-roundups/20-free-and-useful-adobe-illustrator-scripts/
​

If you add the plugins Rick suggested, Illustrator can be every bit as good as CorelDraw in the modern day sign shop...

 

[The Vector Doctor]

I would like to see Adobe or some other 3rd party produce a function that produces this kind of extrude/shadow that is VINYL FRIENDLY. Yes there is a 3d tool in Illustrator but the results produce too many extra shapes and when applied to detailed graphics or complex serifed fonts they have too many anomalies

I want something similar to what some of the sign software programs can do.

 

[Vinylman]

Eric;

You are so well versed in Illustrator, I know you could create that effect with four or five quick moves. Just not a one click option as yet.

 

[The Vector Doctor]

Eric;

You are so well versed in Illustrator, I know you could create that effect with four or five quick moves. Just not a one click option as yet.

Yeah I did that I in less than 20 seconds. However, that is not the case when there a dozens of letters or worse, when a serifed and rounded font is used. It requires extensive work and a script/effect could do any amount of letters in a fraction of time.

 

[sinetist]

One Java script plug-in I use a lot is "Divide Text" ... it'll divide text that is on more than one line into individual lines. There's also a "Join Text" script that does the opposite but I don't use that as often.

 

[ChicagoGraphics]

I would like to see Adobe or some other 3rd party produce a function that produces this kind of extrude/shadow that is VINYL FRIENDLY. Yes there is a 3d tool in Illustrator but the results produce too many extra shapes and when applied to detailed graphics or complex serifed fonts they have too many anomalies

I want something similar to what some of the sign software programs can do.

Eric are you sure there's nothing in Illustrator to give you that type of shadow? Couple of years ago I was adding a drop shadow in illy and it gave me that shadow instead of regular shadow it gives you. I don't remember what I clicked on though.

 

[The Vector Doctor]

Eric are you sure there's nothing in Illustrator to give you that type of shadow? Couple of years ago I was adding a drop shadow in illy and it gave me that shadow instead of regular shadow it gives you. I don't remember what I clicked on though.

Not that I am aware of. 3d extrude that I spoke of will do this but it is NOT vinyl friendly

 

[vid]

Yeah I did that I in less than 20 seconds. However, that is not the case when there a dozens of letters or worse, when a serifed and rounded font is used. It requires extensive work and a script/effect could do any amount of letters in a fraction of time.

Yes. BIG PITA!

But, How are you creating that?

I'm still old school on those

Set Type>

Copy > Paste in Back > (move to desired location) > Paste in Back (Pasting a another copy of the original - Keep selected > Select the moved copy > Blend (144 Steps) > Expand > Unite > Delete Anchor Points created by the blend > Adjust colors --- (Hopefully that makes sense.)

For example, this one took about 4 minutes (+-)