Impact for designers

The world's leading CAD software for packaging designers.
Impact covers everything you need through one integrated product - designed to make packaging design fast, simple and accurate.
Impact-on-laptop-1

There’s simply nothing else out there that compares.
Impact CAD has been evolving since 1988, based on feedback from our customers and our own experience of packaging.  We’ve developed the features you want to make packaging design simple and cost-effective.

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Designer using impact at desk

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Ideal for packaging designers

Initial design is streamlined and made easier through a set of fully interactive drawing tools that accurately reflect the end product.

Whether starting from scratch or importing existing work, results can be achieved with speed and guaranteed for accuracy. It’s even possible to get instant feedback on rule length, area, and weight and waste calculations to make sure you stay on track.

Library of designs

You’ll have access to a vast library of existing packaging designs that’ll give you a flying start to any project.

The designs are simple to customise, bespoke to the materials you use and cover every industry standard. Your time is freed up so you can use your skills to create something unique.

impact design library screenshot

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A preview of a packaging design on the Impact software

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Faster approvals

Our Impact CAD software helps you get buy-in for your packaging designs through easy soft-proofing that allows you to create virtual 3D samples and animated prototypes that can be shared with the customer, enabling them to see exactly how everything fits together.

The software is fully compatible with your plotters and sample makers, providing straight-forward production of physical samples and mock-ups.

Team work

Impact enables you to share your packaging designs with your team, storing all the work in one, easily accessible place. If you have a multi-site operation then our supporting suite of software can extend this team-working function to a national and global level.

Different languages? Different units? No problem. Teams can work together from around the world in any way they want.

Two coworkers sit at a table having a discussion

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Why choose Impact – the leading packaging design software…

Impact interactive drawing toolset feature> Interactive drawing toolset

> Extensive library of reusable parametric design styles including corrugated (FEFCO), folding carton (ECMA), point of sale displays, rigid paper composite and CD/DVD wallets

> Drag and drop design components

> Layout and nesting capabilities for efficient design arrangement and accurate estimating

> Powerful tools to proof or design around artwork

> Advanced 3D modelling and animation tools for fast prototyping of your packaging designs and enhanced innovation in presentation

> Built around a powerful and fully customisable design database to help manage and locate anything you create or edit

> Able to generate design reports to allow you to effortlessly share branded technical drawings with your customers through a single click

> Advanced tools to import and clean a wide range of other CAD and non-CAD drawings, ready for production

> A fully customisable interface and user-programmable tools

> Open and flexible machine drivers that can communicate with anything from desktop plotters to lasers and engraving machines

> Supports all industry standard databases including SQL, Oracle and MySQL

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machine cutting out a designWhy you’ll love Impact – the leading packaging design software…

> Designed by people who truly understand your business

> Compatible with your machines and ways of working

> Optimal drawing and sample turnaround

> Time saving through features such as drag and drop

> Scalable and bespoke: you choose the features you need and the software can evolve with your business

> Maximise your output to save time, money and reduce waste

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Impact Valet

Managing multiple tasks – such as delivering spec sheets to customers, sending files to the graphics department and die-maker, and running samples for the same job – can be a time-intensive and complex process. File management often becomes a juggling act, prone to inefficiencies and errors.

The Impact Valet Plug-in offers a solution by streamlining your workflow with just one click. This powerful tool enables you to create custom profiles that automate the distribution of files to designated network drives or printers. Simply define the file types you need, save the profile, and the plug-in can be applied to any job at any time.

By automating file generation and distribution, the Impact Valet Plug-in eliminates the stress of manual file management, saving valuable time and significantly reducing the risk of errors. It ensures that all necessary files reach their intended destinations efficiently and accurately, enhancing productivity and workflow precision.

Impact Bill of Materials (BOM)

The Impact BOM (Bill of Materials) Plug-In sets a new standard for generating comprehensive and customisable BOM reports. Designed for multi-part designs, such as displays, this plug-in audits your project to identify all individual ‘One Up’ layers, 3D layers, and associated documentation. Once the available layers and documentation are identified, users can easily select which items to include in the report.

The plug-in also features an extensive library of more than 800 parts, including clips, hooks, and other components from various suppliers. It provides recommendations for commonly used part combinations, streamlining the selection process. Designers can specify quantities for each design and part, then generate a professional, company-branded report with just one click.

Ideal for POP display shops, the Impact BOM Plug-In is an essential tool that enhances efficiency and accuracy in the design process. As one of the most powerful plug-ins for Impact, it is available now to take your workflow to the next level.

 

Impact Utility Tool Box

Have you ever wanted additional tools to elevate your Impact experience?

Introducing the Impact Utility Toolbox Plug-In, the ultimate enhancement for Impact CAD users. This first release delivers a suite of time-saving tools specifically designed to simplify and optimise your workflow.

Whether it’s quickly generating labels for pre-print or effortlessly mirroring and stitching geometry with a single click, or the versatile Quick Bleed tool for adding bleed paths to packaging designs, the Impact Utility Toolbox makes routine tasks more efficient.

With 30 powerful tools at your fingertips, this plug-in empowers you to boost productivity and enhance your day-to-day design work. Experience a new level of efficiency with the Impact Utility Toolbox.

Impact Shape Repeater

Arranging shapes within a panel can be a time-consuming task, requiring careful attention to positioning, consistent gutters, and precise margins – time that busy designers often can’t afford to spare. The Impact Shape Repeater Plug-In eliminates this hassle by automating the process.

With this powerful tool, simply define the dimensions of your rectangular or circular shapes, specify the number of rows and columns, and select the desired placement style. The plug-in takes care of the rest, ensuring perfect alignment and consistency. You can even incorporate custom vent hole shapes for specialised placements.

Whether you’re designing produce packaging or creating custom die cuts for display backings, the Shape Repeater Plug-In simplifies the layout process, enhances accuracy, and saves valuable time.

Impact Tile Project Layers

Impact is a project-based system that organises individual design one-ups, layouts, and 3D elements using layers. However, navigating these layers can sometimes be challenging when layer tabs lack sufficient detail about their contents.

The Tile Projects Layers Plug-In addresses this by providing a thumbnail image of each layer’s geometry, offering a clear visual overview of your project.

With this plug-in, hover a layer to get additional information or simply double-click on the thumbnail of the desired drawing to jump directly to the corresponding layer and continue working seamlessly.

It’s an innovative way to enhance navigation and improve workflow efficiency.

Try Tile Projects Layers Plug-In and discover a faster, more intuitive way to manage your project layers.

Impact OD calculator

Determining the outside dimensions of a design can often be a challenging task. The Impact OD Calculator Plug-In simplifies this process, making it quick and effortless.

By entering the inside length, width, and depth of your design, along with the number of thicknesses of each side and your caliper, the plug-in accurately calculates the outside dimensions. It also provides both inside and outside volumes, giving you precise measurements in seconds. This information is then written to the database for use in reports.

Fast, efficient, and user-friendly, this tool is an essential addition for any shop. Experience the ease of the Impact OD Calculator Plug-In, and you’ll wonder how you managed without it.

File export generic

Impact ACM File Importer

Have you ever needed to import an ACM file from your front-end device, perhaps because you cannot locate the original drawing?

Now, you can do so effortlessly with the ACM File Importer Plug-In. This essential tool simplifies the process, allowing you to seamlessly import ACM files directly into Impact.

Why our customers love Impact…

“Impact really stands apart with its support for multi-piece designs, specifically, keeping design components, manufacturing layouts and 3D models linked nicely within the same project. This, and its ability to handle all our project-related digital assets, means we don’t have to manually keep track of everything and can concentrate on the task at hand.”


Impact user

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