Introductory Manual

for
Version 1.9
English
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Contents
Installation 3
Mac OS 4
Windows 4
Trial Period and Licensing 5
Activating with a license key 6
De-activating your computer 7
Other online services 7
Introduction 8
Link to demonstration movies 8
Example files 8
Accessing VectorScribe’s Tools 9
Contact and Copyright 10

This Introductory Manual describes only what’s required to get up-and-running with
VectorScribe—the basic essentials. To get the most out of this Adobe Illustrator plugin, a
series of movies has been produced to better illustrate what’s possible and how to quickly
and easily achieve it.

Visit
www.astutegraphics.com/products/vectorscribe/movies.html
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Installation
VectorScribe is supplied as a single standard Illustrator plugin and is installed using standard Mac OS or
Windows installer systems. The license key unlocks the trial version into the full version.

VectorScribe requires Adobe Illustrator CS4, CS5, CS6 or Illustrator Creative Cloud version 17 — referred
to hereon as “CC(17)” — to operate.

Unified installer

VectorScribe is available for Illustrator CS4 to CC(17) via a single unified

installer. The installer process should automatically locate each version
of Illustrator present on your computer and install the correct plug-
in version. Note that Illustrator CS4, CS5, CS6 and CC each require a
different plug-in version.

Upgrading on Windows

If upgrading your plugin on Windows systems, it is first necessary to

manually remove or uninstall any existing version which may be present
on your system. To do so, please use the standard uninstall procedure
for your particular version of Windows, typically via the Control Panel.

Important!

You may require computer administrator rights to install VectorScribe.

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Mac OS 10.5 and above

1. Quit Illustrator.

2. Open the “VectorScribe.dmg” disk image

3. Start the “VectorScribe” installer package and follow the instructions.

Note: the installer will attempt to seek all installations of Illustrator CS4, CS5, CS6 and CC and
provide options to install for one or more of these. It is also possible to manually specify the target
folder for each installation by clicking on the [...] button to the right of each entry.

4. Start Illustrator. You can confirm that the software has been successfully installed, running initially
in its Trial period, but following Illustrator » About VectorScribe... (Cancel closes the window).

Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8

1. Quit Illustrator.

2. Open the .zip archive and extract the “VectorScribe Setup.exe” program installer file.

3. Start the installer and follow the instructions.

Note: the installer will attempt to seek all installations of Illustrator CS4, CS5, CS6 and CC and
provide options to install for one or more of these. The appropriate 32 or 64 bit versi0n will be
installed automatically. It is also possible to manually specify the target folder for each installation
by clicking on the Browse button to the right of each entry.

4. Start Illustrator. You can confirm that the software has been successfully installed, running initially
in its Trial period, but following Help » About VectorScribe...

Notes

• If you later wish to install VectorScribe for other versions of Adobe

Illustrator on the same computer (not virtual machines), simply re-
run the installation process.
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Trial period and licensing

When installed for the first time, VectorScribe operates in a Trial period for a nominal period. When in
this mode, you have access to all tools.

Upon expiry of the Trial period, the tools are no longer active and an information window stating that the
Trial has expired will be displayed in the tool’s panels or when attempting to switch to one of the tools via
the Illustrator toolbar.

To continue using the tools, you will need to purchase a license, which will result in a license key being
sent by email. To purchase a license key, please visit www.astutegraphics.com/buy/
Keep this information safe for future reference.

The license key allows you to install on all computers for the number of concurrent users determined
by the number of licenses purchased. Confirmation of the number of concurrent users permitted is
displayed when a license key is successfully applied.

Notes

• As of VectorScribe version 1.9.0, the Designer and Studio

levels were dropped. The single VectorScribe product now
contains all tools found previously in VectorScribe Studio.
Existing VectorScribe Designer licenses require upgrading
to allow activation of the latest version of VectorScribe.

• The Astute Graphics licensing system applies valid license keys

for the whole computer, not just individual installations of Adobe
Illustrator. It’s therefore possible to simultaneously operate licensed
copies of the plug-in on more than one installation of Adobe
Illustrator simultaneously.

• It is very important that you store your license key safely

for both future reference and to ensure that others do not
gain improper access to it. As per the license agreement
displayed during the installation process, Astute Graphics
retains the right to block the use of any licenses which have
found to be misused.
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Activating with a license key

Once you have installed VectorScribe and received your license key following purchase, follow:
Illustrator » About VectorScribe... (Mac OS)
Help » About VectorScribe... (Windows)

To license VectorScribe, take the following steps:

1. Click on the Activate button

2. Copy and paste the license key into the box

and click OK

You may be asked to enter your, or your

administrator, password; please do so

3. If successful, you will be informed that

VectorScribe is activated and confirmation of
the number of concurrent users permitted

4. Click OK and further confirmation of the

plug-in version/level licensed may be seen in
the About window

5. Click on the Close button to close the About

window and restart Illustrator to ensure you
have access to the plug-in toolset

It is also possible to gain direct access to the

Activate / Deactivate window by following Help
» Astute Graphics » VectorScribe » Licensing...

The activation process may be repeated on all

computers to be used by the concurrent user(s).

Mac OS: pasting your license key

If you experience difficulties pasting your license key into the activation
plugin window, paste by right-clicking in the entry box and opting for
“Paste”. Alternatively use the alternative license activation window
found via Help » Astute Graphics » VectorScribe » Licensing...
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De-activating your computer

If you intend to change computer, discarding your existing licensed computer, it is essential that you first
de-activate your license. Failure to do so may result in abuse of your license key which will result in the
key being blocked for future use!

When ready to de-activate your computer, open the About window following:
Illustrator » About VectorScribe... (Mac OS)
Help » About VectorScribe... (Windows)

1. Click on the Deactivate button

2. Confirm that you intend to de-activate your

computer

3. Following confirmation, close the confirmation and About window

4. Restart Illustrator

It is possible to re-activate the computer at a later date by following the previous activation instructions.

Other online services

The Help » Astute Graphics » VectorScribe » menu also contains entries for the following services:

• Check for Updates: opens a website page detailing the latest public versions of VectorScribe ready for
download.

• Buy/Upgrade: if you are still operating in the Trial period, this will take you to the online purchase
web page. If you are already operating a licensed version of VectorScribe, you will be taken directly to
the upgrade page. If your license number is available, you can proceed immediately with the upgrade
process without need of the original invoice number.

• Licensing Help: for additional information of the licensing system, including automated assistance
tools, this will open the www.astutegraphics.com/licensing/ web page.
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Introduction
VectorScribe is designed from the ground-up to enhance the workflow, capabilities and experiences of all
artists, designers and operators who produce or edit vector artwork in Adobe Illustrator. Editing vector
paths becomes a joy with PathScribe; making accurate measurements a cinch with Dynamic Measure;
creating shapes and rounding corners a revelation with Dynamic Shapes and Dynamic Corners.

Get more from VectorScribe - Movies

This Introductory Manual describes only what’s required to get up-and-

running with VectorScribe—the basic essentials. To get the most out of
this Adobe Illustrator plugin, a series of movies has been produced to
better illustrate what’s possible and how to quickly and easily achieve it.

Visit www.astutegraphics.com/products/vectorscribe/movies.html

Get more from VectorScribe - Example files

Three examples files are supplied with VectorScribe:

Quick Start
Quickly learn how to use a selection of the key tools with this movie:
www.astutegraphics.com/products/vectorscribe/movies.html

Dynamic Shapes and Dynamic Corners

Load the supplied example file into Adobe Illustrator CS4, or above, and
switch over to the Dynamic Shapes or Dynamic Corners tools to examine
content present within the artwork.

MCKIBILLO Patent Gadget

Great example artwork originally produced by renowned designer Josh
McKible containing many Dynamic Shape elements.
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Accessing VectorScribe’s Tools

Once the VectorScribe plugin is
installed, each of the tool’s panels
may be opened by clicking in turn
on all entries via the Window »
VectorScribe » ... menu (shown
right).

Alternatively, all VectorScribe

Panels plus all other Astute
Graphics plugin panels may be
opened in a single operation by
opting for Window » Show All
Astute Graphics Panels

Once all the panels have been

opened, they may be docked and
arranged with standard Adobe
Illustrator panels as normal.

Toolbox tool buttons

VectorScribe adds 4 new tools in the Illustrator toolbox. Depending on whether your Illustrator toolbox
is set to a single or double column state, they can be identified as below:

Dynamic Shapes Dynamic Shapes Dynamic Corners

Dynamic Corners

PathScribe

Dynamic Measure PathScribe Dynamic Measure

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For the latest information, please visit the Astute Graphics website: www.astutegraphics.com

With thanks to...

We wish to thank all those who helped in the development and success of this product with special
mentions to:

John, Dmitry, Jo, Susan & Adam Herman van Boeijen

Jean-Claude Tremblay Monika Gause
Iaroslav Lazunov Sean Ferguson
Ben Kinnaird Lukas Engqvist
Chana Messer Sharon Steuer
Sebastian Bleak All other wonderful pre-release testers!

Trademarks, association and endorsement
“Adobe Illustrator” is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
“Apple”, “Mac” and “OS X” are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.
“Windows XP”, “Windows Vista”, “Windows 7” and “Windows 8” are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.

Neither Astute Graphics Limited or its products are associated with or endorsed by Adobe, Apple or
Microsoft.

Copyright
This document is copyright Astute Graphics Limited, 2013. All rights reserved.

Contact Astute Graphics Limited

Astute Graphics Limited, 2 Bridge Street, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR4 9DF, ENGLAND

To contact Astute Graphics Limited, please tel. +44 (0) 1432 341073 or use the on-line web form:
www.astutegraphics.com/contact/

England and Wales Registered Company No. 6465495

Manual issue 1.9.1, 24 May 2013