A plugin for powerful grids and guides in InDesign
GuideGuide is a plugin that makes it easy to construct columns, build baselines, mark midpoints, and respect ratios, all by manipulating guides in your favorite design tools — now in InDesign.
Howdy 🤠,
I'm the creator of GuideGuide. I first launched it in 2010 as the grid tool Photoshop never had and a solution to frustrations in my life as a designer, illustrator, and creative director. In the years since, I've launched versions for Illustrator and Sketch and turned GuideGuide into a productive income source.
Last year I left gainful employment behind to focus full time on independent development. Today’s launch is my first since then, and I'm starting by adding GuideGuide to InDesign.
GuideGuide is a plugin that manipulates the built-in guide features of design software to create grids. It begins with a grid form with the usual features — rows, columns, margins, gutters — the kind of tool designers use to create full layouts or use to divide up smaller elements, comic artists use to create their pages, and photographers use to assist with composition and thumbnail layouts.
Things begin to get powerful with selections. When you select an object, whatever you do in GuideGuide happens within the boundaries of that object. Need a three column grid inside an image? Do it. Want to calculate some padding around the outside of a logo? Do that too.
I've put some quick action buttons at the top of the panel to streamline adding guides to the edges and midpoints of things and clearing your guides.
Most powerfully, it’s got a custom language called Grid Notation for “writing” grids. This makes it possible for you to do things other grid tools simply can’t — column margins and midpoints, aspect ratios, or for the design and math perverts, things like the golden ratio or Fibonacci sequence. It’s tricky to find something you can’t do with GuideGuide.
If you’re a person that uses Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, or Sketch, I hope that you’ll give it a try and find it useful. Thanks for taking the time to take a look.
