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The essential Adobe Illustrator® color plugin range

Other plugins

The following list gives links to other developers, in alphabetical order, and their Adobe Illustrator plugins.

Note some plugins are only for older versions of Illustrator and some are for PC or Mac only. Please read developer's website for full details of each plugin.

plugin

  • Abneil Software Ltd.
    www.graphicxtras.com
    • Andrew's Vector Plugin Collection
      An extensive pack of vector shape creation tools also available individually
  • AGE Technologies, Inc.
    www.agetechnologies.com
    • ArtLibrary
      Produce an unlimited number of sketches and artwork libraries
    • ColorTools
      Create and manage color story boards
  • AppliCraft
    www.applicraft.com
    • CADgate
      DXF, DWG and IGES CAD file conversion - also available from Hot Door, Inc.
  • Artlandia
    www.artlandia.com
    • SymmetryWorks
      Make repeat patterns
    • LivePresets
      Live pattern swatches or symbols
  • Avenza Systems Inc.
    www.avenza.com
    • MAPublisher
      Bridges the gap between Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and high-end graphic design and publishing of maps
  • Baby Universe
    www.baby-universe.co.jp/plug-in/
    • Serial Barcode
      Barcode generator (Japanese only)
    • CAD-COMPO
      CAD tools with DXF file exchange (Japanese only)
    • AIPLOT-Pro
      Plotter driver (Japanese only)
    • TypeSet-Pro
      Japanese type setting (Japanese only)
  • BlitzTools
    www.blitztools.com/plugins/illustrator.html
    • Barcode Plugin for Adobe Illustrator CS 3
      Create all common linear and 2D area barcodes
  • Code Line
    www.code-line.com/software/artfiles.html
    • Art Files
      Not strictly a plugin, but a Mac OS X utility to collect all files associated with an Illustrator file
  • Comnet Corporation
    www.comnet-network.co.jp
    • FoldUP 3D
      Packaging and dimesional design allowing preview of folded package or print design in 3D - also available from Hot Door, Inc.
    • LogoSpruce
      Tracing plugin which also offers path alignment and tidying
    • NiceCut / Pro
      Vinyl cutting sign making system
    • Slim Point
      Eliminate unnecessary anchor points, making files smaller
  • CValley, Inc.
    www.cvalley.com
    • FILTERiT
      FILTERiT is a plug-in suite which features various exciting and unique effects
    • Xtream Path
      Drag, stretch, push and pull... you can do a lot with paths
  • Digital Graphic Solutions
    www.flexocase.com
    • Flexocase
      Produce templates for folded cardboard boxes
    • Repro Tools
      Place print alignment marks on your page
    • InkGuide
      Calculate ink usage
    • Borders
      Calculate print plate cost by coverage
  • Elysium Co. Ltd.
    www.elysium.co.jp
    • 3D-Tiger
      Visualize and edit 3D CAD surface data - also available from POSH GmbH
  • Enfocus
    www.enfocus.com/product.php?id=3166
    • Instant Barcode
      Barcode generation and verification
  • Esko-Graphics
    www.esko.com
    • boostX
      Accelerate frequently used selection and alignment operations and add new ways to handle spot colors and special inks
    • checkX
      File preflight for print
    • trapX
      Advanced trapping control
    • barX
      Automatically generate barcodes, with checks and balances to assure the correct code is printed accurately
    • viewX
      Visually inspect your packaging design
    • OutRight
      Match between every proof, film or plate, no matter what PDF level or PostScript RIP or imaging device is used
    • stepX
      Create step and repeat arrangements ideal for label printers
    • ArtiosCAD import and export
      Import and export native ArtiosCAD files
  • FreeSoft s.a.
    www.silhouetteonline.com
    • Silhouette
      Bitmap to vector tracing with manual detail control
  • Hot Door, Inc.
    www.hotdoor.com
    • CADtools
      Draw in any scale, easily dimension artwork and numerically control size and location of objects or points
    • MultiPage
      Adds multipage functionality
    • Perspective
      Isometric, oblique, and perspective drawing tools
  • Jean-Louis Garrivet
    http://perso.orange.fr/jlg.outils/
    • Various
      A selection of CAD-type and uniform vector creation tools
  • Jürg Lehni
    www.scriptographer.com
    • Scriptographer
      Extensive scripting plugin giving the user the possibility to extend Illustrator's functionality by the use of the JavaScript language
  • Michael Swanson
    www.mikeswanson.com/XAMLExport/
    • XAML Export
      Export directly to WPF ("Avalon")/XAML
  • New Ceres Solution
    www.magisign.com
    • NCS MagiSign
      Create, select, setup and cut signs
  • Nineblock Software
    www.nineblock.com
    • SnapMeasure
      Advanced measurement tool
    • BetterHandles
      Create and edit Bezier curve handles
  • Moan, Inc.
    www.moam-inc.com
    • QwikMarx
      Produce layout dimensions
  • Panopticum LLC
    www.panopticum.com
    • Array
      Create complicated geometrical patterns
    • Vectorizer
      Convert a raster image into vector image with defined contour precision
  • Pantone®, Inc.
    www.pantone.com
    • HexVector®
      Convert vector graphics and line art to Hexachrome
  • Pulse Microsystems Limited
    www.embroideryi2.com
    • Embroidery i2
      Create embroidery using Illustrator
  • Rick Johnson/Graffix
    http://rj-graffix.com/software/plugins.html
    • Concatenate
      Filter that connects two or more paths into one continuous path with options
    • Nudge Palette
      Allows you to adjust the position of a patterned fill within an object or dash pattern along a path
    • Square-Up
      Convert a selected path's anchor points to corner points, and square-up lines
    • Select
      Adds 18 additional object types under the Select menu
    • Cutting Tools
      Advanced path cutting and deletion tools
    • Trackplan Tools
      Quickly draw model railroad trackplans
    • Proof Block
      Creates a proof block for routing illustrations to editors and art directors prior to publication
    • Isometric Line Tool
      Draws straight lines constrained to isometric angles
    • Misc
      Other small (and free) or legacy plugins are available
  • Shinycore Software
    www.shinycore.com
    • Path Styler Pro
      Create bevel effects on your artwork
  • Stephen Vincent
    http://members.shaw.ca/spvincent/plugins/
    • Mesh Utils
      Adds eight filters and one tool to create, colour, and manipulate gradient meshes
    • Kimbo
      Tools including Mirror, Cut, Rectangle Cut, Tile and Rosette
    • VTexture
      Create natural-looking textures as Live Effects from gradient-filled art
    • Curvius
      Additional filters Crenellate, Reverse Path, Roughen, Roulette, Simplify, Smooth and Straighten
    • Tessella
      Create rectangular, rhombic, hexagonal and triangular patterns
    • Point Tweaker
      View and finely adjust the coordinates of path points
  • Telegraphic
    www.telegraphics.com.au
    • Radial Distort Filter
      Create a radial distortion of artwork
    • Cylinder Distort Filter
      Wrap artwork such as a lable around a cylinder or bottle
    • Pathlength Filter
      Computes the length/perimeter of paths
    • Patharea Filter
      Computes the area and length of Illustrator paths
    • Pathtotext Filter
      Exports a text file (tab delimited) of selected path co-ordinates
    • Tooldemo
      Example of a plugin tool which creates a logarithmic graph of a simple function
  • Triple Triangle Inc.
    www.tripletriangle.com
    • Mechanical Cubed
      A suite of products (including Slug Cubed, Job Spec Cubed and Crop Cubed - all available separately) for creating and maintaining mechanicals including crop marks, fold marks and slugs
  • Vertigo Software Corp.
    www.vertigo3d.com
    • 3D PopArt
      3D extrusion of artwork and text
    • 3D Words
      Produce 3D text effects
    • 3D Dizzy
      Import 3D models, position, create lighting effects, control camera view and choose from a number of rendering effects
  • Virtual Mirror Corporation
    www.virtualmirror.com
    • Vector Studio
      Creative filters including shape editing, texturing, advanced gradients and textures and workspace management - also available from Hot Door, Inc.
  • Worker 72a
    www.worker72a.com
      Plugins available for Mac only (other plugins are available)...
    • Scoop
      Collect support files
    • SepPreview
      Preview color separations
    • QuickCarton
      Create corrugated carton dies
    • Point Control
      Path and point control functions
  • Wriston Development
    www.flexostep.com
    • FlexoStep
      Tool for packaging/label artwork including stepping, repeating and distorting
  • Zevrix Solutions
    www.zevrix.com/artoptimizer.html
    • ArtOptimizer
      Reduce the size of images linked to Adobe Illustrator document

Scripts

The following list gives links to scripts and script resources developed by third parties to extend the capabilities of Illustrator.

Even though scripts do not tend to provide extensive additional functionality, these small additions can prove invaluable and are often provided freely.

You may also wish to look at Jürg Lehni's freely available Scriptographer which gives an alternative scripting method and benefits from extensive support.

  • Nathaniel Vaughn Kelso's Javascripts for Illustrator
    www.kelsocartography.com/scripts/
    • Multiple scripts by Nathaniel, John Wundes and Wolfgang Reszel
      Nathaniel, a leading Illustrator professional user specialising in the field of cartography brings a great collection of very useful free scripts to enhance Illustrator
  • John's Javascripts for Illustrator
    www.wundes.com/js4ai/displayFilesWTemplate.pl
    • Multiple scripts
      A wide variety of free scripts handling text, placement, randomising and more
  • Scripting Illustrator blog
    http://js4ai.blogspot.com/
    • Blog produced by John Wundes
      Discussing the issues of scripting for Illustrator CS
  • Les' forum posting
    www.illustratortechniques.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58
    • Placed artwork collection script
      Posting on Illustrator Techniques forum