Dimensioning from bounding boxes
Quick Dims streamlines measuring and creating dimensions from graphic object bounding boxes, and dynamically updates the dimension object when artwork metrics change.
ArtFlex Software
ArtFlex Quick Dims — an Adobe Illustrator dimensioning plug-in
A shipped cross-platform Illustrator plug-in, packaged and installable on both Windows and macOS.
- Industry
- Print and Packaging Software
- Service
- Product Engineering
The client
ArtFlex Software builds solutions for print management and production businesses, with plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator and InDesign that streamline design and prepress processes.
The company brings over 20 years of experience in packaging development and print management, helping designers create artwork faster while giving printing houses and brand owners more accurate print data.
ArtFlex Software is based in the IT Hub in Nordhalben Village.
The challenge
Graphic operators preparing artwork for brand owners spend significant time measuring objects and producing dimension annotations by hand.
Any tool solving this had to live inside Adobe Illustrator itself, work across recent Illustrator versions, and behave identically on Mac and Windows.
The approach
Acumen built the plug-in as a native Illustrator extension rather than a scripted add-on, adding a new tool to the Illustrator Tools Palette with a pop-up panel for customizing dimension objects.
Compatibility was scoped to the last three versions of Adobe Illustrator on both macOS and Windows.
Acumen also handled packaging and produced installers for both operating systems.
The solution
What we built.
Preview mode
Users modify and visualize the resulting dimension objects before committing to create them.
Dimension segments
Segments can be created between two points whether or not they sit on an existing path — two clicks to specify the points, one to create, with adjustment afterwards.
Packaging and distribution
Acumen packaged the plug-in and created installers for both Windows and macOS.
Technology
What it runs on.
Development
- Qt
- C++
Platforms
- Windows
- macOS
Host applications
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
Results
What changed for the business.
Faster dimensioning workflow
Measuring and dimensioning artwork moved from a manual task to a two-click operation inside Illustrator.
Dimensions that stay correct
Dimension objects update dynamically when artwork metrics change, reducing rework in prepress.
Shipped on both platforms
The plug-in was packaged with installers for Windows and macOS across the last three Illustrator versions.
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