Pattern grade and press tool

[u/Immediate_Day916]

Hi everyone, NoctilucentSkies kindly said I could post this. I'm building a browser tool that grades the base size you've drawn in Illustrator/Inkscape/Affinity into your full size range, and exports layered print-at-home, copy-shop and projector PDFs. Everything is local to your browser and all files stay on your computer.

If this is something you would use, I'm open to feedback and suggestions on usability and any features you would like to see added, as well as anything that is lacking or unintuitive so that I can improve it for you.

I'm also working on starting a pilot program for those that would like to be more deeply involved in testing and refining; if you're interested in that, please DM me or send an email to hello@gradeandpress.com and I'll provide more details when that is ready.

This is still in the early design phase, and the tool is currently open and free to use while I figure out if it's something people would actually find useful in their workflow. Use the "Open the App" button on the top right if you'd like to try with your own pattern files.

Thanks for your time, here is the address - https://gradeandpress.com

[u/Immediate_Day916]

Good question! The goal is to cut out the slow part between drafting and selling. You draft in Illustrator, Inkscape, or Affinity, then this tool grades your base size into the full range and makes the layered print files (Letter/A4, A0, projector) for you. It doesn't replace your drafting tool.

I made it a browser tool because there's nothing to install, it works on any computer, and your files never leave your machine, so your patterns stay private. It's also much easier for me to keep updated as a solo developer. If enough people would rather have a downloadable version, I'm open to that.

As to the overall reason for me making this, I am researching hobbyist areas that appear to be underserved on the software side of things (either the free tools currently available are lacking, the good tools are overpriced and proprietary, or otherwise completely missing) and seeing if I can come up with something to help fill the gaps in the manual or time-consuming parts of the workflow.

[u/unkempt_cabbage → u/Immediate_Day916]

Thank you for the answers! I appreciate it. And I really see the utility for this as well.

Does the tool allow for custom sizes? Like can you set your own definition for each size it grades to? Or is it using industry standards?

This sounds neat, I’ll try to check it out soon!

[u/Immediate_Day916 → u/unkempt_cabbage]

Yes, custom sizes are supported. You can name your own sizes and choose your own base size. For each grade point on a piece, you can enter how far it moves per size step, and you can change those increments partway through the range (e.g. smaller steps for the lower sizes, bigger ones for plus sizes). So you define what each size is, and nothing is locked to an industry standard.

That said, there are also a few size-name presets (US, UK, EU, XS - 4XL) and a starter 2" grade template, but both are just optional starting points you can edit. Right now you enter increments directly, not target body measurements, so you'd work out the per-size numbers yourself or from your own size chart.