Scale

[BarnyB]

Im thinking of swapping from Autodesk Graphic to Illustrator for drawing floor plans as it allow me to export in CAD, the only problem is that i can seem to set a scale up, ie 1:20 for the page setup - Is this possible?

Thanks

[Doug A Roberts · Accepted solution]

no, there aren't user-defined scales in illustrator. any scaling you do would have to be ad hoc.

other users might know of plugins though...?

[Doug A Roberts]

one i have heard of, but have not used, is CADtools.

[John Mensinger]

As Doug indicated, you'd have to use a plugin to get true "drawing scale" functionality in Illustrator, and CADTools is the go-to for that.

But, I'd advise you to reconsider the switch. Drafting floor plans is CAD work for good reason, and Illustrator is not a drafting package. Yes, you can export to CAD formats, but the resulting .dxf or .dwg file will be devoid of the associative data that is compiled by CAD apps as you draft. Of course I don't know all the nuances of your workflow and its objectives, but I suspect that associative data likely plays in instrumental role in the forward-usefuless and editable life cycle of your finished product. Without it, you'll only be producing "dead" pictures of no use in Engineering/Construction endeavors.

[BarnyB]

Thank you all for your replys, i thought as much. I dont do a huge deal of drawing work, so was looking into an alternative without the expense of autodeskCAD or the like. Graphic is fine for me bar not being able to export CAD files.

If anyone can suggest an alternative it would be appreciated.

[watermelon111]

If you are still looking try this:

EXDXF-Pro - Convert ai to DXF | Baby Universe Inc.

[JETalmage]

…looking into an alternative…

Among the long-established general-purpose vector illustration programs, ACD Canvas (formerly Deneba Canvas) has proper customizable drawing scales, and also all the other associated tools you're going to want for floor plans (live dimensions, etc.) I'd recommend buying it before paying hundreds for a plug-in. Canvas can also be purchased as a normal license, rather than by a rental scheme.

JET

[hotdoorsupport]

CADtools is available from www.hotdoor.com and adds scaling and dimension to the Illustrator tools, among other features.  CADtools has many preset architectural and engineering scales, but you also can create any custom scale.  There is a 7-day trial where CADtools operates as a full version, if you would like to try it out, and for people who need more time to ascertain if this plug-in suits their needs, they also have a 90-day money back guarantee for any reason.