Illustrator Scripting Palette Plugin

I've always wanted to program inside Illustrator.

People have also told me that the reason they don't want to learn to program is because "it doesn't apply to anything useful." I hope that this new pallete will help my designer/artist friends explore the creative possibilities of programming within a "useful" environment. Please enjoy this plugin. I'm not sure of any future versions as this was just an experiment to see if I could lure my classmates into learning Python. Please send me .ai files and code so I can put you on this page.

1. Install Python 1.5.2
2. Download Illustrator Scripting Palette Plugin
Unzip all these files into <illustrator folder>\plug-ins\Extensions.
Note: you will need to restart Illustrator. Versions of the Python software produced later than version 1.5 have not been tested to work with the Illustrator Scripting Palette.
3. Share your code in the gallery

  


Window > Show Scripting Window
Example Scripts:

 
ai.noFill()
for i in range(0,100):
	ai.strokeColor(i/100.0,0,0,0)
	ai.line(0,i,100,i)
	ai.oval(i,i,i+5,i+5)
 
ai.noFill()
for i in range(0,100):
	ai.strokeColor(i/100.0,1-i/100.0,0,0)
	ai.curve(i,0,-50,150,150,-50,i,100)
 
import random
def rnd():
	return random.random()/2

for r in range(0,10):
	for c in range(0,10):
		ai.fillColor(rnd(),rnd(),rnd(),rnd())
		ai.rect(r*10,c*10,r*10+10,c*10+10)
		ai.fillColor(rnd(),rnd(),rnd(),rnd())
		ai.oval(r*10,c*10,r*10+10,c*10+10)

import random

def rnd():
	return random.random()*100

for i in range(0,100):
	ai.strokeWidth(random.random()*2.0)
	ai.curve(rnd(),rnd(),rnd(),rnd(),\
rnd(),rnd(),rnd(),rnd())

import math
ai.strokeWidth(0.1)
for i in range(0,100):
	a = math.cos(i)*10
	b = math.sin(i)*10
	ai.oval(a,b,a+i,b+100)

#Untitled by dk jang <jangdk@yahoo.com>
#April 11, 2003

import math
ai.noFill()
rot1 = 0
rot2 = rot1 + ((math.pi/200)*95)
rot3 = rot1 + ((math.pi/200)*105)
num1 = 0.23
num2 = 0.055
step = 0

for i in range(0,501):
    ai.strokeWidth(0.1)
    ai.strokeColor(0,0.7,1,0)
    step = step + math.pi/415
    rot1 = rot1 + (math.pi/130)*(math.cos(step))
    rot2 = rot1 + ((math.pi/130)*(95+(i*0.02)))
    rot3 = rot1 + ((math.pi/130)*(105-(i*0.02)))
    x1 = math.cos(rot1)*(50-(i*num1))
    y1 = math.sin(rot1)*(50-(i*num1))
    x2 = math.cos(rot1)*(50-(i*num1))*-1
    y2 = math.sin(rot1)*(50-(i*num1))*-1
    x3 = math.cos(rot2)*(30-(i*num2))
    y3 = math.sin(rot2)*(30-(i*num2))
    x4 = math.cos(rot3)*(30-(i*num2))
    y4 = math.sin(rot3)*(30-(i*num2))
    ai.curve(x1,y1,x3*10,y3*10,\
              x4*10,y4*10,x2,y2)
    ai.curve(-x1,-y1,-x3*10,-y3*10,\
               -x4*10,-y4*10,-x2,-y2)



 


#00_Pattern
#by Dimitre at dmtr.org
import math
scale = 40
ai.fillColor(0,0,0,1)
ai.noStroke()
 
for i in range(0,15):
	for j in range(0,15):
		ai.vertex(i*scale,j*scale,(i)*scale,(j+1)*scale)
		ai.vertex((i)*scale,(j+1)*scale,(i+1)*scale,(j+1)*scale)
		ai.vertex((i+1)*scale,(j+1)*scale,(i+1)*scale,(j)*scale)
		ai.vertex((i+1)*scale,(j)*scale,(i)*scale,(j)*scale)
		ai.path(1)
		


	    





#Florespiral
#by Dimitre at dmtr.org
import math
PI = 3.1415926
fator = 8
av = 2

def c2a(x, y):
	angle = math.atan2(y,x) * 180/PI
	return angle

def c2m (x, y):
	m = math.sqrt(x*x + y*y)
	return m
	
def r2x (a, m):
	x = m * math.cos(a/3.0)
	return x
	
def r2y (a, m):
	y = m * math.sin(a/3.0)
	return y

for i in range(20,80):
	for j in range(0,2):
		angulo = i * 3
		magnitude = (90-i)/2.0
		xx = r2x (angulo, magnitude) * fator + 300
		yy = r2y (angulo, magnitude) * fator + 400

		xx2 = r2x (angulo - av, magnitude*2) * fator + 300
		yy2 = r2y (angulo - av, magnitude*2) * fator + 400

		xx3 = r2x (angulo + av, magnitude*2) * fator + 300
		yy3 = r2y (angulo + av, magnitude*2) * fator + 400

		ai.vertex (300, 400, xx3, yy3)
		ai.vertex (xx, yy, xx2, yy2)
	ai.path(1)



About the ai Python object:
All drawing functions begin with "ai."
All x-y coordinates are expressed in floated values. If you pass an integer, it will be converted automatically.
All x-y coordinates are relative to 0,0 defined by the document's ruler, and units are in the document's default units.
All built-ins and Python included libraries will work in the illustrator scripting palette. That includes TCPIP, File I/O, and Python language extension modules.

Illustrator Functions:

ai.line(x1,y1,x2,y2)
Creates a single opened path with 2 vertices at x1,y1 and x2,y2.

ai.curve(x1,y1,hx1,hy1,hx2,hy2,x2,y2)
Creates a single opened path with 2 vertices at x1,y1 (with out bezier handles at hx1,hy1) and x2,y2, (with in bezier handles at hx2,hy2)

ai.rect(x1,y1,x2,y2)
Creates a rectangle closed path with upper-left corner at x1,y1 and lower right corner at x2,y2

ai.roundedRect(x1,y1,x2,y2,r)
Creates a rectangle closed path with upper-left corner at x1,y1 and lower right corner at x2,y2 and a corner radius of r

ai.oval(x1,y1,x2,y2)
Creates an inscribed oval closed path with upper-left corner at x1,y1 and lower right corner at x2,y2

ai.star(numPoints,cx,cy,r1,r2)
Creates an illustrator "star" closed path (as in the tool). numPoints is an integer specifying how many points on the star, which is drawn with center point cx,cy and with one radius r1 and the second radius r2.

ai.regularPolygon(numSides,cx,cy,r)
Creates a regular polygon closed path (all sides and angles equal). numSides is an Integer specifying how many sides are on the shape, which is drawn with center point cx,cy, and with a radius of r.

ai.spiral(firstArcCenterX, firstArcCenterY, \
    startX, startY, decayPercent, numQuarterTurns, clockwiseFromOutside)
Creates a spiral path (as in the spiral tool). decayPercent is a floated value between 0.0 and 1.0. NumQuarterTurns is an integer. ClockwiseFromOutside is either 1 or 0.

ai.vertex(x,y)
ai.vertex(x,y,inX,inY)
ai.vertex(x,y,inX,inY,outX,outY)
These functions add vertices to be stroked by the path function. An illustrator control-vertex is created, positioned at x,y with in-bezier handle at inX,inY and with out-bezier handle at outX,outY.

ai.path()
ai.path(closed)
Creates the multi-point path specified using the vertex function. By default, the path will be closed (1), unless you pass a 0 for closed.

ai.fillColor(gray)
ai.fillColor(r,g,b)
ai.fillColor(c,m,y,k)

ai.strokeColor(gray)
ai.strokeColor(r,g,b)
ai.strokeColor(c,m,y,k)

Change the default fill and stroke colors on the tool pallete, respectively. All values passed should be floats between 0.0 and 1.0. If you pass one value, it will be interpretted as gray. If you pass three values, it will be interpretted as RGB. If you pass four values, it will be interpretted as CMYK. Change the current color in a statement BEFORE creating the shape you want to be that color.

Note: RGB does not work properly in CMYK color space documents. This option is chosen during creating a new document (the window that pops up when you hit Ctrl+N)

ai.noFill()
ai.noStroke()
Disable current stroke and fill, respectively. This is the same as clicking the color box with a red slash through it.

ai.opacity(o)
Changes the current opacity in the transparency pallete, and all shapes created afterwards.
o is a floated value between 0.0 (invisible) and 1.0 (completely opaque).

ai.transparencyMode(mode)
Changes the current transparency mode in the transparency pallete, and all shapes created afterwards. mode is an integer 0 through 15, following this table:

0 = Normal
1 = Multiply
2 = Screen
3 = Overlay
4 = Soft Light
5 = Hard Light
6 = Color Dodge
7 = Color Burn		 08 = Darken
09 = Lighten
10 = Difference
11 = Exclusion
12 = Hue
13 = Saturation
14 = Color
15 = Luminosity

ai.strokeWidth(w)
Changes the current stroke width, where w is a floated value.

ai.miterLimit(L)
Changes the miter limit (as in the stroke pallete), where L is a floated value. This only applies if you are using a butt cap.

ai.lineCap(c)
Changes the current cap style (as in the stroke pallete), where c can only be 0 (butt),1 (round) or 2 (bevel).

ai.lineJoin(c)
Changes the current join style (as in the stroke pallete), where c can only be 0 (butt),1 (round) or 2 (bevel).

ai.lineDash(dash1)
ai.lineDash(dash1,gap1)
ai.lineDash(dash1,gap1,dash2)
ai.lineDash(dash1,gap1,dash2,gap2)
ai.lineDash(dash1,gap1,dash2,gap2,dash3)
ai.lineDash(dash1,gap1,dash2,gap2,dash3,gap3)
Sets the line dash, where dashes and gaps are synonimous with those on the Stroke pallete. The "Dashed Line" checkbox will automatically become "checked."

ai.lineSolid()
"Unchecks" the Dashed Line field on the stroke pallete.

 

  
  Josh Nimoy, 2001