The Grid Calculator
You may have seen what I wrote about the Grid Calculator in other articles. If not, this standalone calculator is a tool to speed up calculations when you are making grids.
The reason I want to mention it again is because it has just been updated to version 1.3. The added features in this version are quite handy. Now it has a Quick conversion field to set measurements in millimeters, inches or points and with one click you can set the results into the input fields. Hopefully this feature will be merged into the input field in later versions.
Anyhow, this is a very important feature not the least for web designers who need a tool to calculate grids. They can use the point measurements for calculating because at 72 dpi resolution points are at same size as pixels.
Another handy new feature is Copy Settings, which copies all the important settings to the clipboard. It means you can leave Grid Calculator and paste the information into the document you are working on and don’t have to go back and forth to copy one field at the time.
Lastly more standard paper sizes have been added to the presets.
Designers Bookshop has set up a temporary web page to introduce these new features and show you how to use the Grid Calculator.
I really like the Grid Calculator. This is such a time saver. I still think it has room for some improvement. First, like I said before: Merge the Quick converter into the main input field, so everyone can directly use the measurements they need.
Secondly, I would like to able to put in the number of rows and columns I am going to use and then work out the closest number of lines available to that setup.
So, if you are ready to jump on the grid bandwagon, read my articles about grid making in Illustrator and use the Grid Calculator to speed up the process. The button in the top right corner leads you directly to the ordering process and leaves a few coins to keep my writing going on.
