Art Directors Toolkit Help User Interface  
 

User Interface

Art Directors Toolkit (ADT) relies on two main windows for its activities. The Main window and Global Results window. In addition, ADT employs tools such as an on-screen ruler to help you find dimensions for elements on your screen from within any application. Below is a detailed explanation of each of these windows and some of the controls contained within them.

Main Window

This is the window you will use to enter your information and perform calculations. It houses each of ADT's utilities. Shown below are some of the controls you will be using to perform your tasks.


Text Field
Used for entering text and dimensions. Text fields that are used for measurements have the ability to convert units on-the-fly. For example, if you are entering dimensions and have "Inch" selected as the unit of measure, you can enter "10.16 cm" and the field will automatically convert itself to "4 in".
 
Changes made to text fields are not applied until you've pressed enter/return on your keyboard or you've left the edit field.


Color Well
(Bordered)
Click these color wells to bring up your system's color picker. Changes made to the selected color well will be applied to ADT's current utility.


Color Well
(Non-bordered)
Unlike bordered color wells, these cannot be used to active your system's color picker. They are primarily for display.


Pop Up Text Field
These are used in ADT for Font Family and Style selection. They act as both a text field allowing you to type in information as well as a pop up menu allowing you to select it. You can also use the up and down arrows on your keyboard to quickly change selections while the field is selected.


Pixel Inspector
Clicking this button will cause a magnifying window to appear. Move this window until its cross-hairs are positioned above the pixel/color you wish to sample. Press your mouse button to sample the color or Escape on your keyboard to cancel.

Global Results Window

The Global Results window is a companion to the Main window that displays results from each utility. It is a floating window that floats above other document windows even when Art Directors Toolkit is in the background. This enables you to quickly view and copy results from ADT without having to switch back to the application.

The Global Results window can also be used to bring Art Directors Toolkit to the foreground if you are working in another application by clicking the ADT icon in the toolbar.

Copying results from this window can be done by highlight text and clicking the clipboard icon in the toolbar. The clipboard will only become enabled when text is highlighted from within the window.

 
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