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Home > Illustrator > Plug-ins > Multitoolbox plug-ins
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Andrew's Vector Plug-ins 4 'MultiTool'
US $8 DOWNLOAD
Requirements: Windows 7 + Vista + XP + MAC OS X 10.2 .3 .4 .5 .6 (Intel/PPC) G4 G5 Adobe ® Illustrator® CS4 CS3 CS2 CS1 10
Demo set for Illustrator CS4 (see other demos below) PDF Manual (available on issuu platform) |
1) The plugins, with CS4, are now all included in a single plugin icon on the Illustrator toolbox; for CS3 and earlier, the tools are all accessed via individual icons on the toolbox
2) Select the tool as required: windmill / grid / spiral etc
3) Select a path OR multiple paths OR images OR symbols OR text as a symbol OR gradients OR gradient meshes and other types and then drag the tool to generate designs between the start point and the end point of the tool drag. The paths are generated on release of the mouse.
On completion, the paths can either be further manipulated by the plugin tool (i.e apply the windmill tool once and then repeat with the generated paths and repeat as required) or you can then continue with the designs and apply effects / pathfinder / group the paths and designs / set onto layers / move to other Illustrator artboards etc
Create a grid of selected paths based on the selected paths + checkerboard and pattern designs as well as different scaling of paths and much more. Flash SWF examples The plug-in now also includes an additional lock feature based around the golden rectangle. The plug-in also has a bounding box feature to enable the creation of grid themed pattern swatches. The plug-in comes with many additional application methods to create 100s of unique grid designs. Tiling features are included along with trace (blurring and painted effects) settings. The plug-in can be used with selected paths as well as selected images or selected gradients or selected symbols (you can use text this way so an entire paragraph or page of text can be used in grid designs)
Example shows the basic grid using copies 10 x 10, though the copies can be set to 2 x 2 or 12 x 45 etc
Example shows the basic grid but with one of the checkerboard settings
Create a zoom / multiple copies of the selected path (s) or images or symbols or symbols text Flash SWF examples. The plug-in comes with lock features to limit the direction of the dragged line; as well as facilities to modify the number of generated shapes as you drag; features to re-color the designs in many ways (the paths can be set to alternate between the color and black or the color and white or alternate between the color and a swatch or just apply the path with a random color or have the color fade away to white or black as well as many other colorful options (also the stroke can be manipulated in a similar way); tiling options to create unique and wow line designs; trace features to create painted and blurring of lines and designs. There are many options available to you, these can be accessed via the sidebar palette (with CS4) or via a dialog in earlier versions
Example shows the drag tool with fill color set from current color to black (last item is set to the black, other options available)
Example showing the drag tool with copies set to 30 (it could be 2 or 3 or 10 or 50 etc)
A variant of drag tool working on the selection of multiple paths and a singular center
Create a frame based on selected paths. Many variant frame designs. The frame plug-in comes with color options, pattern features, layering, rotation settings, path jitter, trace features and many more to create stunning frame designs. Flash SWF examples
Example basic frame (this uses a square but any paths can be used as the frame path or paths)
Example shows one of the edge options (random rotation of the path), other options available
Paint tool / brush creator, grain and noise and backgrounds. Plug-in re-sizes and randomizes the positions of the selected paths to create localized jumbles of paths (or symbols or images). This tool is very useful for creating noise brushes that can be saved into the brushes palette. Millions of great designs can be created using this plug-in. The plug-in also can be re-applied to create ever more complex design. Combine this with Illustrator's pathfinder feature to create truly awesome shapes and paths. Flash SWF examples
Example shows the random placement tool, a star has been used but the path can be anything
Example shows the random placement but this time with the randomization of color applied, other options available
Example shows symbol (text has been added to symbol palette) applied using random placement tool
Rotation and circular effects on selected paths and symbols and images. The plug-in comes with many features such as matching cursor angle, color options, patterns and tiling features, repeat applies, different apply methods, different layering of path settings and many more Flash SWF examples The plug-in comes with trace options to create awesome swirls of paths and designs. The plug-in can also be re-applied with the selected designs to create ever more complex circular path designs. As with all the plug-ins, the plug-in set can be used with paths as well as with images (placed) or symbols (here you can use text such as entire page of text in a circular design). The latest version of the windmill tool includes additional patterns (these are available to all the other tools as well but the patterns were added specifically for this plugin); circles feature so instead of a single circle, multiple circles can be created as you apply the windmill tool; turn setting to create elliptical designs and other variant circular designs.
Example shows the basic windmill setting, though the paths can be applied in millions of ways
Example shows the match option set, the rotation of the path matches the position of the end point (cursor)
Example shows multiple circles feature along with factor applied (30% of a circle) to create fan designs
Use to scale a selected path and repeat settings for twists and turns + blur effects and much more. Select a path or paths or symbols or images and reduce or increase the size of duplicated elements. Use different apply modes, color settings, patterns and much more to create 1000s of different designs. Use this tool to create unique gradient / decreasing path designs in seconds (such as using circles and decreasing radii designs). The path can be re-applied repeatedly with the selected paths to create stunning and unique grid designs as well as 3D like designs in seconds. Flash SWF examples
Example shows the basic scale down tool, the paths are dragged from top to bottom with a size reduction of 3% for each path
Example shows a different scale down apply mode where the paths alternate in their scale down (increase in size also available)
Repeats and bounces and pulse effects. Similar to the scaledown tool but this plug-in comes into its own with pulse and warping line and grid designs
Spirals created out of selected paths. The spiral plug-in comes with the same selection of color settings as the other plug-ins enabling the creation of truly stunning colorful spiral designs, in either directions, with varying decay designs and more
A variant of the duplication tool but misses alternate paths.
Select a path and paint in a variety of ways, great with the pattern / tile feature. The plug-in also comes with pressure features so you can manipulate the designs in subtle ways (does require an artpad for the pressure option)
Example of paint tool with size reduction and fading / opacity set as the paint progresses
Example shows the paint tool applied using a text symbol as the source path
Create basic patterns in seconds and define a pattern swatch
Creates a background based on drag size or frame in seconds. Use the designs as overlays, as textures, noise backgrounds, frame designs, combine, modify and much more.
Example shows the background tool, paths fill the entire rectangular area of the drag (frame option available also)
Manipulate points of a path in 1000s of ways.
The points plug-in works on the path's anchor points and direction points and stretches the path based on the movement of the mouse / pen and many different type of point combinations.
The plug-in is packed with many different options to randomize values, interpolate points, create abstract designs via trace, layer / animation and much more.
The example below shows only one of the toolbox dialogs (there are 12 others depending on the plugin tool selected). The same approach is applied for each, such as modifying the fill / stroke / patterns etc as well as locking the path, applying a trace, alignment, deletion of original path and other settings
The tool works interactively, it is not a filter or plugin. Select the tool via the toolbox, select the path or paths and then drag from the 'start' point to the 'end point' (the region for the generated paths) and release the mouse
For updates to CS4, please e-mail support@graphicxtras.com with serial numbers/purchased product details and I will send on the new links to the updates for PC / MAC OS X (as of November 2008)
Please note the demo only displays in outline mode and so you cannot see any of the color features / stroke features. Also, the demo is only active while you drag the mouse from the start point to end point. On release, the outline designs are deleted. If you wish to see more examples of the plugin tool effects or have any questions about the functionality of the plugin set, please contact us. Please note there are now multiple versions of the demo set, please select the plugin set for your current version of the plugin set, otherwise the plugin set will fail to load. The demo, as with the full version, appears in the toolbox and NOT the effects or object or filters menu. The demo set now includes both the PC and the MAC OS X version, please install the correct set depending on your OS.
The demos below are for the earlier versions of Illustrator (see top right side for current demo for CS4)
Latest version of the multitoolkit plugin set was released on January 4th 2010. Changes only for CS4 and include updated windmill plugin as well as additional pattern / mirror settings throughout the plugins tools. The points tool has not been updated.
1) Select the path
2) Select the multitool (found in the toolbox of Illustrator®)
3) Select the sub-plugin 'scaledown'
4) Double click the plugin icon to display options
5) Select the 'to white' color option, set the scaling to 101%
6) Remove any 'stroke' as this is not 're-colored' in the current version.
7) Set the beneath to true / checked (this creates the shapes below the initial selected shape)
8) Set the copies to 30 or more
9) Drag in the desired direction (can be in any direction or basically no change of position)
10) Release the mouse to create the 30+ 'blurred' dynamic vector paths
1) Create a path (such as a circle)
2) Create multiple paths in different locations throughout the document
3) Re-color the paths via the fill palette / swatches
4) Select all the paths
5) Goto the multi-tool
6) Select the GX4 Drag tool
7) Double click the tool to display the options for the drag tool
8) Set the copies to 20
9) Set the fill options to 'to swatch'
10) The swatch field will be enabled, enter a number (say 15.. this is orange in the swatches palette). The number is the position in the swatch palette for the document
11) Set the pattern mode to 'use original path'. The pattern tiling will be based on the original / start path position for each path.
12) Drag diagonally (you can drag in different directions to generate a different angle of path tiling
On purchase of the plug-in set, you will receive the download link to the plug-in pack. Any questions about the plug-ins pack, please contact support at graphicxtras.com
Graphicxtras.com is a website for royalty-free content and exciting hi-impact plug-in effects. All the content has been created by graphicxtras.com (Andrew Buckle) for use in commercial as well as hobby designs. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact me. You can also call me on (UK +44) 1622 688 375. Privacy: details are not sent onto any third party. All purchases are via paypal (or shareit.com). This is the official source of all graphicxtras.com material, however, you can also purchase the items on a number of scrapbooking sites as well
