Astute Graphics Illustrator Plugins

[aaffonso]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Astute's Illustrator plugins yet. They make my life when working with Illustrator, if not enjoyable, easier.

My favorite is VectorScribe, since it makes the AI bezier pen tool usable. Some details are very similar to Freehand, like you can drag the middle from a live segment to transform it into a curve.

http://www.astutegraphics.com/

I bought all of their plugins and I can say I couldn't be using Illustrator without those tools.

[garethglynn]

Totally agree with aaffonso, Astute plugins make Illustrator just about usable.
Adobe should hire Astute – who would work independently – to fix all of Illustrator's clunkiness.

[saschabierl]

Or the Astute guys should write a totally new vector app - it seems they know about user's needs - in contrast to Adobe!

[Pixero]

I was in Contact with Astute a while ago asking for a Illustrator plugin that simulated the Freehand selection tool but they were not too interested. Maybe if more people asked them...

[FFH Mark]

Or the Astute guys should write a totally new vector app - it seems they know about user's needs - in contrast to Adobe!

Probably a conflict of interest with Adobe but damn, what a good idea. Astute knows their stuff and how to make vector design an intuitive experience. Every FreeHand-to-Illustrator convert that I know says Astute's plugins are mandatory.