Adobe Illustrator Scripting

Expert guidance for automating Adobe Illustrator through ExtendScript (JavaScript/JSX). This skill covers the Illustrator scripting object model, all major API objects, code patterns, and best practices for writing production-quality .jsx scripts.

Bundled Assets

• references/object-model-quick-reference.md: Use this as a quick lookup for the Illustrator scripting object model, common document and page item types, and related DOM concepts while writing or debugging scripts.
• scripts/: Contains example Illustrator automation scripts you can use as starting points or implementation patterns for common tasks such as document manipulation, exports, batch processing, and DOM usage. Review and adapt these examples when you need working JSX patterns or want to compare behavior while debugging.

When to Use This Skill

• Writing new Illustrator automation scripts (.jsx or .js files)
• Debugging or fixing existing Illustrator ExtendScript code
• Manipulating documents, layers, page items, paths, text, or colors programmatically
• Batch-processing Illustrator files or generating artwork from data
• Exporting documents to various formats (PDF, SVG, PNG, EPS, etc.)
• Working with the Illustrator DOM (Application, Document, Layer, PathItem, TextFrame, etc.)
• Creating data-driven graphics using variables and datasets
• Automating print workflows with scripted print options

Prerequisites

• Adobe Illustrator CC or later installed
• Basic JavaScript knowledge (ExtendScript is ES3-based with Adobe extensions)
• Scripts are executed via File > Scripts > Other Scripts, the Scripts menu, or placed in the Startup Scripts folder
• The ExtendScript Toolkit (ESTK) or any text editor can be used to write .jsx files

Scripting Environment

Language and File Extensions

This skill focuses on ExtendScript/JavaScript as the cross-platform, most widely used option.

Executing Scripts

• Scripts menu: File > Scripts lists scripts from the application scripts folder
• Other Scripts: File > Scripts > Other Scripts to browse and run any .jsx file
• Startup Scripts: Place scripts in the Startup Scripts folder to run automatically on launch
• Target directive: Begin scripts with #target illustrator when running from ESTK or external tools
• #targetengine directive: Use #targetengine "session" to persist variables across script executions
• External invocation: Scripts are frequently launched from outside Illustrator — by shell scripts, task runners, CI jobs, ExtendScript Toolkit (ExtendScript Toolkit.exe -run script.jsx), or BridgeTalk messages from other Adobe apps. See External Invocation & Argument Passing.

Naming Conventions (JavaScript)

• Objects and properties use camelCase: activeDocument, pathItems, textFrames
• The app global references the Application object
• Collection indices are zero-based: documents[0] is the frontmost document
• Use typename property to identify object types at runtime

Object Model Overview

The Illustrator DOM follows a strict containment hierarchy:

Application (app)
├── activeDocument / documents[]
│   ├── layers[]
│   │   ├── pageItems[] (all artwork)
│   │   ├── pathItems[]
│   │   ├── compoundPathItems[]
│   │   ├── textFrames[]
│   │   ├── placedItems[]
│   │   ├── rasterItems[]
│   │   ├── meshItems[]
│   │   ├── pluginItems[]
│   │   ├── graphItems[]
│   │   ├── symbolItems[]
│   │   ├── nonNativeItems[]
│   │   ├── legacyTextItems[]
│   │   └── groupItems[]
│   ├── artboards[]
│   ├── views[]
│   ├── selection (array of selected items)
│   ├── swatches[], spots[], gradients[], patterns[]
│   ├── graphicStyles[], brushes[], symbols[]
│   ├── textFonts[] (via app.textFonts)
│   ├── stories[], characterStyles[], paragraphStyles[]
│   ├── variables[], datasets[]
│   └── inkList[], printOptions
├── preferences
├── printerList[]
└── textFonts[]

Top-Level Objects

• Application (app): The root object. Provides access to documents, preferences, fonts, and printers. Key properties: activeDocument, documents, textFonts, printerList, userInteractionLevel, version.

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