Some days I find myself wondering whether the core fundamentals of Sketch App can even be improved by plugin functionality. Sketch App is a breeze to use because its features are minimal.
As true as that may be, it doesn’t mean that we can’t extend its usefulness here and there with Sketch App plugins. In this article, I’ll talk about managing plugins with the Sketch Toolbox and a few of my everyday favourites. Let's start with the Sketch Toolbox.
Managing Plugins with Sketch Toolbox
If you don’t already have it, download the Sketch Toolbox, which is a separate Mac App created by Shahruz Shauka that manages plugins for Sketch. If you've used Sublime extensions or Atom packages, Sketch Toolbox should feel familiar.
It offers an incredibly straightforward way of installing and uninstalling Sketch plugins from its own curated database of awesome add-ons.
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Plugins that Can Significantly Speed Up Your Workflow
Some of these Sketch plugins can be activated with nothing more than a keyboard shortcut, whereas others require a little more explanation. One of those is AEIconizer, which copies your icon design artboard and creates multiple iOS-ready clones - the name has always baffled me, but its effectiveness is outstanding.
Chances are you currently use of Smart Objects when designing iOS icons in Photoshop. Sketch App doesn’t have that functionality (maybe because it can hinder performance), so search for and install “AEIconizer” with Sketch Toolbox, and then use command+shift+i while actively focusing on a square artboard of any size. We now have our icon design in 14 different sizes.
If you decide to make a change to the design (now labelled as “Icon-Original”), simply run that keyboard shortcut again.
Nifty.
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Sketch Commands is another keyboard shortcut tool that adds a colossal amount of convenient keypresses to Sketch App’s already well-stocked repertoire. Perform a huge raft of tasks from rapid-selecting to applying intricate image effects with nothing more than a few keyboard taps.
Content Generator doesn’t have any shortcuts associated with it, but you can select a layer (or multiple similar layers), navigate to Plugins → Content Generator Sketch Plugin from the menu bar, and then choose anything from locations, e-mail addresses, names, images, 'time ago' dates and 'lorem ipsum'.
Plugins that Collaborate with Apps You Already Use
Facebook Origami, Slack, FramerJS, Zeplin and Marvel App are some very well-known and critically-acclaimed tools that many of us designer folk could not survive without, so it’s almost inevitable that these plugins exist to help bridge the gap between these epic mostly-prototyping tools and Sketch App.
Continue reading %7 Fantastic Plugins to Level-up Your Sketch App Powers%
by Daniel Schwarz via SitePoint
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