==================================================================
  GridCraft  —  Layout, Logo & Gridframe construction grids
  for Adobe Illustrator
  Installation Guide  (v1.0)
==================================================================

GridCraft is a panel (CEP extension) for Adobe Illustrator. It builds
classic layout/typographic grids, logo construction grids, and clear-
space (Gridframe) zones from your selected artwork or artboard.

Works in: Adobe Illustrator CC 2019 through 2025 (Mac & Windows).


------------------------------------------------------------------
WHICH METHOD SHOULD I USE?
------------------------------------------------------------------
There are two ways to install. You only need ONE.

  • METHOD 1 — Copy the folder yourself  (no extra software needed)
        Works for everyone. Recommended for most people.

  • METHOD 2 — ZXP installer  (only if you already have one)
        If you already use a ZXP/UXP installer tool.


==================================================================
  METHOD 1 — COPY THE FOLDER  (recommended, no extra tools)
==================================================================

------------------------------------------------------------------
STEP 1 — COPY THE FOLDER INTO THE CEP EXTENSIONS DIRECTORY
------------------------------------------------------------------
Unzip this download, then move the "GridCraft" folder into:

  macOS:
    ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CEP/extensions/
    (the ~ is your home folder. In Finder use Go > Go to Folder…
     and paste:  ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CEP/extensions )

  Windows:
    C:\Users\<YourName>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\CEP\extensions\

If the "CEP" or "extensions" folders don't exist, create them.

Final path should look like:
  …/Adobe/CEP/extensions/GridCraft/CSXS/manifest.xml


------------------------------------------------------------------
STEP 2 — ENABLE UNSIGNED EXTENSIONS (one-time)
------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> THIS STEP IS REQUIRED. <<<
>>> To avoid a white/empty panel, you MUST do this step. <<<

Adobe blocks unsigned extensions by default. GridCraft is unsigned,
so Illustrator will show a BLANK white panel unless you enable
"debug mode" once. This is safe — it simply tells Illustrator
to allow unsigned extensions like GridCraft to load.

  ─── macOS ───

  Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal), paste this
  single line, and press Return:

    defaults write com.adobe.CSXS.12 PlayerDebugMode 1 && defaults write com.adobe.CSXS.11 PlayerDebugMode 1 && defaults write com.adobe.CSXS.10 PlayerDebugMode 1 && defaults write com.adobe.CSXS.9 PlayerDebugMode 1 && echo "Done — now restart Illustrator."

  You should see "Done — now restart Illustrator." That's it.

  (If you prefer to paste one line at a time:)

    defaults write com.adobe.CSXS.12 PlayerDebugMode 1
    defaults write com.adobe.CSXS.11 PlayerDebugMode 1
    defaults write com.adobe.CSXS.10 PlayerDebugMode 1
    defaults write com.adobe.CSXS.9  PlayerDebugMode 1

  ─── Windows ───

  Press Win+R, type  regedit  and press Enter. Navigate to:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\CSXS.12

  In the right pane, right-click > New > String Value.
  Name it:  PlayerDebugMode
  Double-click it and set the value data to:  1

  Repeat for CSXS.11, CSXS.10, and CSXS.9.
  (If a CSXS.x key doesn't exist, skip that one.)

Tip: the CSXS number matches the CEP version of your Illustrator.
Setting 9–12 covers all recent versions, so just do them all.


------------------------------------------------------------------
STEP 3 — RESTART ILLUSTRATOR & OPEN THE PANEL
------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Fully quit Illustrator (Cmd+Q / Alt+F4), then reopen it.
2. Go to:   Window  >  Extensions  >  GridCraft
3. The GridCraft panel opens. Dock it anywhere you like.


==================================================================
  METHOD 2 — ZXP INSTALLER  (optional)
==================================================================
If you already use a ZXP/UXP installer or an Extension Manager:

  1. Download the free ZXP/UXP Installer from aescripts + aeplugins:
     https://aescripts.com/learn/zxp-installer/

  2. Open the installer and drag the GridCraft .zxp onto it
     (or use File > Install).

  3. Restart Illustrator and open  Window > Extensions > GridCraft.

A ZXP installer registers the extension for you, so you do NOT need
the debug-mode step from METHOD 1.

Note: if there is no .zxp file in your download, use METHOD 1 above.


------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO USE
------------------------------------------------------------------
The panel has three tabs at the top:

• LAYOUT — pick any of 30+ grid systems (columns, modular, golden
  section, Fibonacci, rule of thirds, baseline, 8-point, bento,
  isometric, Van de Graaf, and more). Draw a rectangle (e.g. an A4
  frame) or select an artboard, choose a grid, set the parameters,
  and click "Build Grid".

• LOGO GRID — select your logo artwork (outline live text first:
  Type > Create Outlines). Toggle Anchors, Handles, Outlines and
  Gridlines, adjust the Gridline Sensitivity slider, then click
  "Build Logo Grid". Construction lines extend to the artboard edges.

• GRIDFRAME — select your logo to generate a clear-space / exclusion
  zone. Choose the unit (X-height auto-detect, logo height, or a
  custom value) and a multiplier, pick a fill (diagonal hatch, unit
  tiles, or frames only), then click "Build Gridframe".

Picking a color: click any color swatch to open GridCraft's built-in
color picker — drag in the square, move the hue slider, or type/paste
a hex code. (GridCraft uses its own picker so colors work reliably
inside Illustrator.)

Everything is created as one named, editable group — a single Undo
(Cmd+Z / Ctrl+Z) removes it. You can export the result as SVG/PDF
or keep it as guides.


------------------------------------------------------------------
STILL GETTING A BLANK PANEL?
------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Did you do Step 2 (debug mode)?
   This is the #1 cause. Go back and run the Terminal command (Mac)
   or add the registry values (Windows).

2. Did you fully restart Illustrator?
   Cmd+Q (Mac) or Alt+F4 (Windows) to fully quit, then reopen.
   Just closing the window is not enough on Mac.

3. Is the folder in the right place?
   Check that this path exists:
   …/Adobe/CEP/extensions/GridCraft/CSXS/manifest.xml

4. Did you copy the whole folder?
   Make sure the entire GridCraft folder (with js/, jsx/, CSXS/
   subfolders) was copied, not just some of the files.

5. "GridCraft" isn't in Window > Extensions?
   Redo Step 2, fully restart, and check the folder path.

6. "Select your logo artwork first" / "no vector paths"?
   Select your artwork. For text, run Type > Create Outlines first.

7. Grid extends off the artboard?
   Construction grids draw outside the logo — give your logo some
   room on the artboard, or zoom out to see the full result.


------------------------------------------------------------------
UNINSTALL
------------------------------------------------------------------
Delete the "GridCraft" folder from the CEP/extensions directory.
(Optional) set the PlayerDebugMode values back to 0 if you don't
use other unsigned extensions.


------------------------------------------------------------------
GridCraft v1.0
==================================================================
