GridMe

Installation & setup

GridMe is approved by Adobe and listed on Adobe Exchange. Install it from Creative Cloud in a couple of clicks, or use the direct installer if your studio blocks the marketplace. Either way, restart Illustrator and open the panel.

Adobe approved

GridMe passed Adobe's review and is listed on Adobe Exchange. Installing from Exchange is the recommended route: Creative Cloud handles the install and updates, and there are no security prompts, debug settings, or third-party installers.

System requirements

Check this list before you install. GridMe runs on the Illustrator versions studios use today.

Adobe Illustrator

  • Illustrator CC 2021 or later
  • macOS or Windows
  • Creative Cloud desktop app (for the Exchange route)

Does not work in Photoshop, InDesign, or any other application. Desktop app only — Creative Cloud Browser previews are not supported.

Operating system

  • macOS — any recent version
  • Windows — any recent version (64-bit)

The direct installer writes to a system folder, so it needs your login password on Mac or administrator access on Windows.

Option 1: Install from Adobe Exchange (recommended)

The fastest and cleanest route. Creative Cloud installs the Adobe-approved build and keeps it up to date, the same way it handles any other Illustrator plugin.

Adobe Exchange — macOS and Windows

  1. 1In Illustrator, go to Window → Find Extensions on Exchange. The Adobe marketplace opens inside the app.
  2. 2Search for GridMe, or open the GridMe listing in your browser.
  3. 3Click Get (or Install). Creative Cloud downloads and installs the approved build for you.
  4. 4When Creative Cloud shows GridMe as installed, continue to Restart Illustrator.

Nothing to unzip, no unknown-developer warning, and no PlayerDebugMode setting to change. Updates arrive through Creative Cloud.

Option 2: Direct installer

Use this route if your studio blocks the Creative Cloud marketplace or you install software offline. Go to the download page, open the Manual install tab, and grab the installer for your platform. Mac and Windows each have their own file — do not mix them.

Run the installer

The installer copies GridMe into the Adobe CEP extensions folder that Illustrator reads at startup.

macOS — gridme_installer.pkg

  1. 1Double-click gridme_installer.pkg.
  2. 2Click through the installer wizard (Introduction → Installation).
  3. 3Enter your Mac login password when prompted — this is required because the installer writes to a system folder.
  4. 4Click Install Software.
  5. 5When it says The installation was successful, click Close.

Windows — GridMe-Installer.exe

  1. 1Double-click GridMe-Installer.exe.
  2. 2If Windows shows a Windows protected your PC prompt, click More info then Run anyway. Windows SmartScreen shows this for new installers. The extension itself is the same signed build that Adobe approved.
  3. 3Click through the installer wizard.
  4. 4Click Install.
  5. 5When the installer finishes, click Close.

The direct installer puts the extension in:

  • macOS: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/CEP/extensions/in.gridme.panel/
  • Windows: %APPDATA%\Adobe\CEP\extensions\in.gridme.panel\

Restart Illustrator

Whichever route you used, quit Adobe Illustrator completely if it was open. On macOS, check the Dock so Illustrator is not still running before you relaunch. On Windows, use File → Exit or confirm the process ended in Task Manager.

Illustrator only loads CEP extensions at startup, not on document open. Fully quitting and relaunching is required.

Open the panel

After relaunching, find GridMe through the Illustrator menu bar:

Window → Extensions → GridMe

The panel opens and shows Ready in the status bar. You are on a 7-day trial from this point.

If GridMe does not appear in the Extensions submenu after a full restart, see Troubleshooting.

Activate your license key

Click the info icon (top right of the panel, next to GridMe) to open Settings. Enter your license key in the field labeled License Key and click Activate. Your key comes from your purchase email or your account license page.

If the key is valid, the panel immediately unlocks and shows Pro in the status pill. Your plan covers two devices, so you can repeat this on a second machine with the same key. The panel stores the activation locally, so later launches load Pro mode without a network call unless 24 hours have passed. See what data is sent during activation.

Docking the panel

GridMe opens floating by default. Drag it by the tab and drop it next to Layers or Properties until you see the blue insert marker, then release. Aim for about 280 to 320 px wide. Illustrator saves the layout with your workspace, so you set it once per machine.

Uninstalling

Installed from Adobe Exchange

Open the Creative Cloud desktop app and go to Manage plugins. Find GridMe, open the ••• menu next to it, and choose Uninstall. Quit and reopen Illustrator.

Direct installer on macOS

Open Terminal and run:

sudo rm -rf "/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CEP/extensions/in.gridme.panel"

Enter your Mac password when prompted. Quit and reopen Illustrator — the panel will no longer appear.

Direct installer on Windows

Open Windows Settings → Apps, search for GridMe, and click Uninstall. Alternatively, re-run GridMe-Installer.exe and choose Remove. Quit and reopen Illustrator after uninstalling.

Uninstalling does not affect your license key or activation record. If you reinstall later, enter the same key and it will activate without a new purchase.