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Tomasz Łoś
Tomasz Łoś
New Participant
April 22, 2011
Answered

How to measure an angle in Illustrator??? HELP!

  • April 22, 2011
  • 3 replies
  • 138522 views

Hi,

I have a big problem that seems very easy, but I can't find a solution on internet. The problem is. I have a rectangle, all angles are 90 degrees, I know that. But how can I make Illustrator to measure this???? Using Window - info I really don't know how to do it? Is it in another place? This is a basic feature I think and I can't believe it's not possible. Please let me know or I will go crazy before Easter.

If you happen to know how to do it, I have also another question. How can I measure something in Illustrator so that it leaves a measurement on the screen, like in Corel, if I measure something, a distance for example it shows it on the screen and it stays on the paper, so if I print it, I have it. In Illustrator, I only can see it in information window, but how can I make it to stay and be printed??

Thank you.

Tomasz

      This topic has been closed for replies.
      Correct answer JETalmage

      Silly as it is...

      Illustrator's Measure tool is useless garbage. The Line Tool makes a better measuring tool.

      1. Make sure Snap to Points and/or SmartGuides is on.

      2. Line Tool: Drag to draw a "line" (it's actually a path) connecting the two points bwtween which you want to measure the angle.

      3. Delete.

      4. DoubleClick the Line tool. The resulting dialog will tell you the angle and length of the path you just drew.

      Illustrator has never provided a proper dimensions toolset, as is taken for granted in programs like Draw and Canvas (just as it has never provided such basics as geometric primitive objects with editable parameters, like rounded rectangles on which you can change the radii, or polygons on which you can change the number of sides, or arcs on which you can change the angular sweep...)

      My JET_DimensionLines.jsx script is a cumbersome workaround for only the very simplest kind of linear dimensions. It will not help you label angles.

      I'd highly recommend your keeping that copy of Draw up-to-date and continue to use it. There is no law that you can only use one drawing program. And Illustrator is a very antequated program that falls very short in too many very basic functions.

      JET

      3 replies

      JETalmage
      JETalmageCorrect answer
      Inspiring
      April 23, 2011

      Silly as it is...

      Illustrator's Measure tool is useless garbage. The Line Tool makes a better measuring tool.

      1. Make sure Snap to Points and/or SmartGuides is on.

      2. Line Tool: Drag to draw a "line" (it's actually a path) connecting the two points bwtween which you want to measure the angle.

      3. Delete.

      4. DoubleClick the Line tool. The resulting dialog will tell you the angle and length of the path you just drew.

      Illustrator has never provided a proper dimensions toolset, as is taken for granted in programs like Draw and Canvas (just as it has never provided such basics as geometric primitive objects with editable parameters, like rounded rectangles on which you can change the radii, or polygons on which you can change the number of sides, or arcs on which you can change the angular sweep...)

      My JET_DimensionLines.jsx script is a cumbersome workaround for only the very simplest kind of linear dimensions. It will not help you label angles.

      I'd highly recommend your keeping that copy of Draw up-to-date and continue to use it. There is no law that you can only use one drawing program. And Illustrator is a very antequated program that falls very short in too many very basic functions.

      JET

        F
        find_help_here
        New Participant
        April 23, 2011

        i m not sure if there is a direct way but there is a workaround available.

        create the shape.

        draw a line segment which is double the size of one side of the angle you want to measure and place it on the side.

        Select the line. Double click Rotate tool. Turn ON Preview checkbox. Increase/decrease angle until the line segment is right above the other side. The value of angle at that time would be the angle between the line segment.

        Mylenium
        Mylenium
        Brainiac
        April 23, 2011
        But how can I make Illustrator to measure this???? Using Window - info I really don't know how to do it?

        You use the measure tool. Also when snapping is on and objects are converted to guides AI will spit out distances and angles.

        but how can I make it to stay and be printed??

        You need a script or plug-in thast creates these measurements as objects. Some of James' scripts might help as may CAD Tools.

        Mylenium

        Tomasz Łoś
        Tomasz ŁośAuthor
        New Participant
        April 23, 2011

        Thank you very much for your help!

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