Cadimage Tools Plugins For Archicad 19 -

Archicad 19 was a 64-bit application, allowing users to utilize more RAM for large projects. Despite this power, creating specific construction details—like fences, cabinets, or site context—often required manual GDL scripting or tedious workarounds.

CADimage Tools addressed this by providing parametric "super-objects" that behaved like native Archicad tools but with expanded logic and intelligence.

An annotation powerhouse.

Introduction: The State of ArchiCAD 19 and the Need for Extras

ArchiCAD 19 was a solid release from Graphisoft, introducing enhanced CineRender engine improvements, better point cloud support, and the now-familiar Tab palette interface. However, like all versions of ArchiCAD, it remained a “generalist” BIM tool. It excels at core modeling, documentation, and collaboration, but when it comes to specialist tasks—particularly around joinery, detailing, presentation, and certain repetitive automation—it can feel lacking. This is where CADimage Tools enters the arena, and for ArchiCAD 19, it was one of the most powerful third-party plugin suites available.

CADimage Tools (developed by CADimage, a New Zealand-based ArchiCAD partner) is not a single tool. It’s a collection of around 15-20 individual plugins that integrate directly into the ArchiCAD 19 interface (adding palettes and menu items). After using this suite extensively for over two years on residential and light commercial projects, here is my long-form review.

Core Functionality: What CADimage Tools Brings to ArchiCAD 19

For ArchiCAD 19 users, the standout modules in the CADimage suite are: CADimage Tools Plugins For Archicad 19

What It Does Well (The Strengths)

Limitations & Criticisms (The Not-So-Good)

No review is honest without addressing downsides, especially for a now-older version like ArchiCAD 19:

Comparison with Alternatives for ArchiCAD 19

Real-World Use Case Example

Project: A 3-story timber-framed beach house with complex curved stairs and exposed rafter tails.
Time using only ArchiCAD 19: Estimated 80 hours of modeling, including custom GDL objects for stairs and manual roof framing.
Time with CADimage Tools on ArchiCAD 19: 22 hours. Framework generated the stud walls and roof battens in 2 hours. StairBuilder created the curved main stair (with custom newels) in 45 minutes. WallEnd handled the exposed rafter tails in 30 minutes. Labelizer scheduled all 48 windows in 10 seconds.

Final Verdict (For ArchiCAD 19 Users)

Rating: 8.5/10 (for its time; 4/10 if trying to run today on modern OS)

If you are still actively using ArchiCAD 19 (perhaps on an older machine or for legacy project maintenance), CADimage Tools is an exceptional productivity booster. The StairBuilder and Framework tools alone justify the cost. The integration, performance, and output quality are top-tier.

However, if you are planning to upgrade ArchiCAD, do not buy CADimage Tools for version 19. Save your money for the modern, updated versions of CADimage Tools (which now support ArchiCAD 28 and have even more features). The version for ArchiCAD 19 is a frozen snapshot of 2015-2016 technology—brilliant in its day, but today it’s a compatibility risk.

Who should buy it (used, or if you find a license):

Who should avoid:

Final Word

CADimage Tools for ArchiCAD 19 was a game-changer in its prime. It turned a capable BIM tool into a specialist’s dream, eliminating hours of tedious work. Today, appreciate it for what it was—a masterclass in third-party ArchiCAD plugins—but unless you have a specific need to stay on ArchiCAD 19, upgrade both your ArchiCAD and your CADimage Tools to modern versions. The spirit of what CADimage built lives on, and it’s better than ever in 2025/2026. Archicad 19 was a 64-bit application, allowing users

The Performance Tax ArchiCAD 19 was a 64-bit app, but it wasn't the multi-threading beast we have today. CADimage Tools loaded a lot of GDL scripts. If you had a file with 50+ CADimage windows and a complex staircase, expect your spinning beach ball (or hourglass) to get a serious workout. Regeneration times on sections could push you to make a coffee run.

The Interface Clash CADimage used its own floating palettes. In ArchiCAD 19 (which was pushing the Palette system to its limit), these often got lost behind the main window or reset their positions every time you sneezed. You spent as much time hunting for the "Update Elevation" button as you did drafting.

Version Lock-In Hell This is the tragic flaw for the v19 user. CADimage Tools were strictly version-locked. If you are using ArchiCAD 19 today, you are using the final version of CADimage that supported that build. There are no bug fixes. There is no support for Windows 11 or macOS Ventura+. You are sailing a pirate ship held together by duct tape and muscle memory.

The CADimage Tools suite for ArchiCAD 19 is not a single plugin but a collection of integrated add-ons. The most prominent tools include RoofCAD, StairCAD, Door and Window Builder, Graphic Override Tools, and Smart PDF Export. Each addresses a specific pain point.

ArchiCAD 19’s native roof tool is powerful for standard pitched roofs, but it struggles with complex hips, valleys, and unusual intersections, especially when dealing with multiple roof planes at different pitches. RoofCAD emerged as the definitive solution. It allowed users to:

The most celebrated tool in the suite. ArchiCAD 19’s native door/window schedules were functional but rigid.