19: Cadimage Tools Plugins For Archicad

In the ecosystem of architectural design software, Graphisoft’s ArchiCAD has long been revered for its intuitive interface and robust Building Information Modeling (BIM) capabilities. However, even the most powerful platforms have niche gaps in their native toolset—gaps that can slow down documentation, detailing, and presentation. For version 19 of ArchiCAD, released in 2015, one of the most celebrated third-party suites to address these limitations was CADimage Tools. Developed by the New Zealand-based firm CADimage, this collection of plugins transformed ArchiCAD 19 from a pure BIM authoring tool into a more agile, documentation-ready environment. This essay explores the specific tools within the CADimage suite for ArchiCAD 19, their core functionalities, and their profound impact on architectural workflows.

Is CADimage Tools for ArchiCAD 19 interesting today? Absolutely. It’s a time capsule of when third-party developers truly outpaced Graphisoft’s native tools.

Who needs this review?

The Final Score (relative to its era): 8.5/10 Minus 1 point for the performance lag. Minus 0.5 for the floating palette rage.

The Bottom Line: Using CADimage Tools on ArchiCAD 19 feels like driving a classic 1980s Porsche 911. It’s faster, louder, and more charismatic than the modern family sedans (AC26/27), but it will occasionally try to kill you with a crash when you least expect it. If you can find a stable license, never let it go. If you are starting fresh? Upgrade your ArchiCAD. The ghost of CADimage lives on in modern workflows, but the v19 magic is strictly for the museum—or the brave.

For Archicad 19, Cadimage Tools (now often referred to under the Ci Tools umbrella) provide a specialized suite of plugins designed to automate complex modeling and documentation tasks.

Below is a breakdown of the primary tools available for this version and how they enhance the architectural workflow. Core Toolset Features

The plugins are designed to solve specific limitations within the native Archicad environment.

Doors + Windows: Offers extensive customization beyond standard library parts, allowing you to create complex openings, unique glazing patterns, and detailed trim in 2D and 3D. CADimage Tools Plugins For Archicad 19

Coverings: Automatically applies realistic claddings, such as weatherboards, shingles, and metal roofing, directly to walls and roofs. It includes built-in accessories like gutters and downpipes.

Cabinets: Enables precise design of custom cabinetry and kitchen layouts with automated scheduling and 3D detailing.

Electrical: Simplifies the placement of smart electrical symbols and automatically generates the corresponding electrical schedules.

Objective: A powerful tool for manipulating and forming custom 3D objects, allowing you to rotate, bend, and cut elements that are otherwise rigid in Archicad. Installation & Version Compatibility

It is critical to match the plugin version exactly to your software version. How to you create cladding of any sort using Archicad 19?

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18;write_to_target_document19;_VWTtaZvkIt6b-d8P3bKLMA_20;55; 0;657;0;438; The Final Score (relative to its era): 8

The integration of Cadimage Tools (now primarily known as Ci Tools0;79b;0;187;) into Archicad 19 represented a significant leap in architectural productivity, transforming standard Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows into highly customized design processes. By offering specialized plugins that address the limitations of native software, Cadimage empowered architects to focus on creativity while automating tedious documentation tasks. 0;92;0;a3; 0;baf;0;da; Enhancing Design Flexibility

One of the primary advantages of the Cadimage suite for Archicad 19 was the introduction of advanced parametric components. Key tools included: 0;4f8;0;449;

Doors + Windows: This plugin allowed for the creation of complex openings that surpassed the standard library's capabilities, enabling architects to design custom joinery with precision.

Coverings0;37a;: A critical tool for detailing, it allowed users to apply realistic 2D and 3D claddings, such as weatherboards and roof tiles, which automatically adjusted to wall and roof geometries.

Objective: This tool specialized in manipulating and forming custom 3D objects, allowing for the creation of unique architectural features that native tools often struggled to represent. Efficiency and Documentation

Beyond pure design, Cadimage Tools drastically reduced the time required for technical documentation:

Keynotes: By centralizing annotation data, this tool eliminated errors and simplified the tedium of managing large-scale project specifications.

Electrical0;303;: It provided smart electrical symbols and schedules, streamlining the coordination of building services. By 2015, ArchiCAD had matured into a robust

Quantities: For project management, this plugin enabled the calculation and export of live bills of quantities directly from the Archicad model. Technical Integration and Installation

In the Archicad 19 era, the Cadimage Installer0;18d; became the central hub for managing these plugins. The process required users to log into a specialized account, select "Archicad 19" from a drop-down menu, and download the specific toolsets required for their workflow. Crucially, a specific "Work Environment" download was necessary to ensure the tools appeared correctly within the Archicad interface. Legacy and Evolution

While Archicad 19 is now an older version of the software, the foundational principles established by Cadimage—enhancing the "Virtual Building" through specialized add-ons—remain vital to the industry. The transition of these tools into the broader Ci Tools ecosystem continues to influence how modern architects handle complex modeling and data management in subsequent versions.

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18;write_to_target_document1a;_VWTtaZvkIt6b-d8P3bKLMA_100;56; 0;a6a;0;5e8; 0;2b4c;0;3496; How to install the Cadimage Tools for ARCHICAD 19

By 2015, ArchiCAD had matured into a robust BIM authoring tool, but it had notable gaps in "front-end" documentation and object automation. Out-of-the-box, ArchiCAD 19 excelled at walls, slabs, and sections, but struggled with:

Enter CADimage Tools. Unlike generic add-ons, CADimage was developed by practicing architects in New Zealand. Their philosophy was simple: eliminate repetitive drafting tasks and embed local building standards into parametric objects.

For ArchiCAD 19 users, the CADimage suite acted as a "missing manual" of features that Graphisoft would only implement natively years later.