Forums

I am looking for a method to measure a path area, like everybody else on this thread.

It seems that I am the least sophisticated person around, since I am not sure how to load the script JET provided.

Any hints for a beginner? I have a 9.0.1 Illustrator edition in Windows.

Also following the method Terri recommended, Shift-F12 did not produce the debugging palette.. awful luck - what is to be done?

thanks a bunch

Avi

What's this doing back up here? ;-)

I've since made a page describing the debug window method - I think you're missing a key there, but I'm not sure what the combo is on the PC...

Find the area of an irregular object

..appreciate very much the feedback.. indeed I have a sorry old Illustrator version. I was able to invoke the pallette with the combination you posted but the path area was not there. So I downloaded Jacob's filter and now I am trying to see how to plug it in. If you have a hint, I appreciate -

thanks again to both of you!

Avi

Jacob

It worked very well - great stuff!. I am a physician and I am working on cardiac MRI.. such as calculating the heart function using slices of heart images in systole and diastole (when the heart is squeezed or full of blood).

.. we can write a little medical paper comparing really pricey software (GE, Siemens, Medis you name it..) with this method for people with not too many pennies in their pocket. The advantage of using Illustrator is that you can blow up the images up to the point of loosing resolution, and trace the margins of the heart with an accuracy that would make any GE guy cry for his mama..

I thought even a cm further.. for simple-minded people (such as physicians for example) one would like a way to input the area of one slice directly into an equation. For example would be a way to create a routine that would take the number of the area of one slice and input it in this equation? Such as to create a little square where you put the slice, you trace it and then the program takes that number and pitches it in the equation without you writing it down on a paper.

thanks again!

Avi

I am trying to buy CS5 for the hospital I work with (they said more or less with a joke they would not accept on their computers stuff older than the hospital itself). Just to see if I can use the Telegraphics plug-in I downloaded a trial version of CS5. Surprisingly it did not have the Filters tab on it. I assume this is just a drawback of the trial version, and I will find that particular tab on the real product. Is this accurate? Or should I find the plug-ins and filters on a different tab?

Thanks for info

Avi

I found this whole thread very interesting. I remember stumbling across it first time it appeared and was very happy to rediscover it as it contained Teri's trick window which I'd forgotten about

It inspired me to add a forth method to the equation, which just got publishing on our Astute Graphics blog: www.astutegraphics.com/blog/calculating-an-objects-area-in-illustrator /

I thought that it may be of interest as it provides a method to calculate the area of all object types - including images, even if the result is more approximate compared to the precise results offered by the afore-mentioned script, plugin and debugging window. But I concede that the method isn't free to those who haven't already bought Phantasm CS Publisher, which the other methods are.

I wanted to thank all those who contributed to this thread, especially James (JET) and Toby (Telegraphics) for producing tools I genuinely use myself!

Nick

JET,

All links removed as requested.

Nick

JET - please re-read my blog post. You will now find no mention of "JET..." (we have to say there were 3 methods in this original forum pot... because there are). You will also perhaps see that I clearly state the the methods here are free and praise them. I really don't see anybody buying a £139 plugin just for this solution. But it made me curious to see if there was another method with our tool. Call it marketing if you like, but I felt I was clear, honest and generous in my praise of what you have achieved with your scripts.

I am sure that much more is possible with scripts.

I trust this is now the conclusion of this thread of the debate. I had no intention of upsetting you. Life's too short.

Now back to enjoying Sunday.

Nick

Nick,

Just a few Sunday comments:

It is worth mentioning that the debugging window does not show the required information up to 10, so this method is only usable from CS (hopefully) on; this might be mentioned in Important notes.

You have a few misspellings in the blog, the most important one being Terri which should be Teri; a rather common one, regularly seen in this forum.

With regard to your mentioning non Phantasm solutions, as I see it, your explicitly non mentioning the solution by James is rather explicit and thereby conspicuous; besides, the contents is not quite updated, and your mentioning their inability to deal with compound paths still includes all three methods, in other words also the one by James.

I would suggest your changing the introduction as follows (shown as two sets with removal of the BoldItalics in the first one and insertion of the BoldItalics in the second, because seemingly colours and strikethrough do not work here in the forum):

Following a long-running thread on the Adobe Illustrator forum [click here to read],  it emerged that there were three (We have agreed to not discuss the  third.) methods to measure the area of a  vector path within Illustrator.  It was interesting to see that each approach was different – and  free – and included a plugin and a hidden window within Illustrator  intended for debugging by the development team. Each  method has it own  advantages, but all have the same disadvantage; they can only provide a  result for simple paths – not compound paths, clipped paths, etc.

In this tip, we’ll have a look at all the previously-disclosed methods plus a forth  option making unique use of Phantasm CS Publisher’s advanced Ink Coverage tool which caters for all object types, including compound paths, editable text, groups and even images!

Following a long-running thread on the Adobe Illustrator forum [click here to read],  it emerged that there are different  methods to measure the area of a  vector path within Illustrator.  It  was interesting to see that each approach was different – and  free –  and included a plugin and a hidden window within Illustrator  intended  for debugging by the development team. Each of the two methods has it own  advantages, but both have the same disadvantage; they can only provide a  result for simple paths – not compound paths, clipped paths, etc.

In this tip, we’ll have a look at both the previously-disclosed methods plus a third option making unique use of Phantasm CS Publisher’s advanced Ink Coverage tool which caters for all object types, including compound paths, editable text, groups and even images!

Non mentioning is rarely served by mentioning, as may be seen from the Robe tale.

yet another "super secret" way

select an item in Illustrator, fire up the ESTK, link to Illustrator and drill down to show the selection.area property

or, just type selection[0].area in the console

Just wanted to thank you for the script.  Saved the day and a lot of work for me !