Cadimage Tools Plugins For Archicad 19
The architect notices the southern window now needs a sunshade. You select the window, launch Solar Stone , input your latitude (e.g., 40.7° N for New York). The tool generates a shading fin. You accept it.
Do not install CADimage Tools versions meant for ArchiCAD 20 or newer. The API (Application Programming Interface) changed significantly with ArchiCAD 20’s introduction of the new Surface Catalog.
Published by ArchiTech Insights | Software Legacy & Productivity CADimage Tools Plugins For Archicad 19
You open the Door/Window Schedule layout. Because CADimage hooks directly into the ArchiCAD database, the schedule has already updated the hardware columns and the elevation legend now shows the awning hinge side.
You send updated PDFs to the client. Total time spent: 15 minutes. Native ArchiCAD 19 would have required manually editing six window objects, updating six schedule rows, and drawing the shade with the Morph tool (approx 2 hours). Part 6: Why Choose CADimage for Legacy ArchiCAD 19 in 2025+? You might ask: Why not just upgrade to ArchiCAD 26 or 27? The architect notices the southern window now needs
If you are still launching ArchiCAD 19 daily, the CADimage suite turns a competent but dated BIM tool into a drafting powerhouse. Efficent alone is worth the (now second-hand) license fee.
| Task | Native ArchiCAD 19 | With CADimage Tools (v19) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | 45 minutes (manual data entry, custom GDL objects) | 8 minutes (auto-populated via Efficent) | | Stair Design | 90 minutes (complex profile + morph + 2D linework) | 15 minutes (StairBuilder parametric) | | Shading Analysis | Not possible natively (required external calc) | 10 minutes (Solar Stone) | | Drawing Index | 30 minutes (manual typing) | 0 minutes (Markers+ auto-builds on save) | | Total Project Time | ~20 hours of documentation | ~6 hours of documentation | You accept it
In the rapid evolution of Building Information Modeling (BIM), software versions often fade into obsolescence. However, many firms and freelance architects continue to rely on for specific legacy projects, hardware constraints, or workflow stability. Released in 2015, ArchiCAD 19 introduced the revolutionary CineRender engine and improved BIMx workflows. But to truly unlock its potential, power users have long turned to third-party developers.