Average Color

Average Color

Script for Adobe Illustrator

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Description

Average Color is an Adobe Illustrator script that calculates and applies the average color across selected objects. It intelligently processes fills, strokes, gradients, and opacity values, making it perfect for creating cohesive color schemes, simplifying complex artwork, or quickly unifying the appearance of multiple objects.

The script works with both path objects and text frames, supporting all Illustrator color modes (RGB, CMYK, Grayscale, and Spot colors). It features a live preview mode so you can see changes before applying them.

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Key Features

  • Average fill colors across multiple objects
  • Average stroke colors across multiple objects
  • Convert gradient colors to solid averaged colors
  • Average opacity values across selected objects
  • Live preview mode to see changes in real-time
  • Support for paths, compound paths, groups, and text frames
  • Works with RGB, CMYK, Grayscale, and Spot colors

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Installation

1. Download the Average Color.jsx script file.

2. Place the script in your Adobe Illustrator Scripts folder:

⮑ Mac: /Applications/Adobe Illustrator <Version>/Presets/<Language>/Scripts

⮑ Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <Version>\Presets\<Language>\Scripts

3. Restart Adobe Illustrator if it's already running

4. Access the script via File > Scripts > Average Color

5. Alternatively, you can run it directly by selecting File > Scripts > Other Script... and browsing to the Average Color.jsx file

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Using the Script

  1. Select objects in your Illustrator document that you want to average 
  2. Run the script via File > Scripts > Average Color
  3. Configure options in the dialog window:

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➊ Configure options in the dialog:

  1. Average fill colors: Averages all fill colors and applies the result to all selected objects
  2. Average stroke colors: Averages all stroke colors and applies the result to all selected objects
  3. Average gradient colors: Converts gradients to solid colors by averaging their gradient stops
  4. Average opacity: Averages opacity values across all selected objects
  5. Preview: Toggle live preview on/off

➋ Apply Average Color

  • Click OK to apply the changes
  • Click Cancel to revert

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Before / After

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Color Mode Support

The script automatically detects your document's color mode:

  • RGB: Averages red, green, and blue channels
  • CMYK: Averages cyan, magenta, yellow, and black channels
  • Grayscale: Converts to RGB/CMYK and averages
  • Spot Colors: Converts spot colors to their base color values with tint applied

➌ Additional Options

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Quick Preview

  • The Preview checkbox is enabled by default, showing you changes immediately
  • Uncheck it to see the original colors while adjusting settings
  • All preview changes are temporary until you click OK

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Fit Selection Button

  • Click the ⊕ button in the dialog to fit your selection in the window
  • Helpful for seeing the effect on large or zoomed-out artwork

➍ Working with Different Object Types

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Paths and Shapes

The script processes all path objects including:

  • Simple paths
  • Compound paths
  • Shapes (rectangles, ellipses, polygons, etc.)
  • Objects nested in groups

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Text Frames

The script works character-by-character on text:

  • Averages colors across all characters in selected text frames
  • Applies the averaged color to every character
  • Works with both fill and stroke colors on text

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Gradients

When "Average gradient colors" is enabled:

  • Gradients are converted to solid colors
  • The solid color is calculated by interpolating across all gradient stops
  • Works for both linear and radial gradients
  • Processes gradients in both fills and strokes

➎ Use Cases

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Design Workflows

  1. Create Color Harmony: Select objects with different colors and average them to create a unified palette
  2. Simplify Gradients: Convert complex gradients to solid colors for easier editing or printing
  3. Match Colors: Quickly make multiple objects share the same color
  4. Opacity Blending: Average opacity across objects for consistent transparency
  5. Text Unification: Apply a single color to multi-colored text

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Practical Examples

  • Logo Simplification: Average colors in a complex logo to reduce color count
  • Illustration Cleanup: Unify colors across imported or traced artwork
  • Print Preparation: Convert gradients to solid colors for spot color printing
  • Style Matching: Make new elements match the average color of existing artwork

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Tips and Tricks

  • Selective Averaging: Uncheck options you don't want to affect (e.g., only average fills, not strokes)
  • Gradient Mode: Enable "Average gradient colors" to only affect gradients, leaving solid colors unchanged
  • Preview First: Always use preview mode to see results before committing
  • No Selection: If nothing is selected, the script will prompt you to select objects

☻ Conclusion

With Average Color, you have a powerful tool to streamline your color workflow and create harmonious designs effortlessly.

Whether you're simplifying complex artwork or unifying color schemes, this script saves time and helps you achieve consistent, professional results. Experiment with the various options and make it part of your creative toolkit!

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Average Colors

Version: 1.0.2

Updated:

Download Average Colors

  • 1.0.0 – Initial release.
    1.0.1 – Now when you open the dialog, the "Average gradient colors" checkbox will be disabled if there are no gradients in the selected objects, making it clear to users that this option isn't applicable to their current selection.
    1.0.2 – Text frames now receive the same averaged color as the rest of your selected objects.

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    Tested on MacOS:

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    • Adobe Illustrator 2023 (27.0)
    • Adobe Illustrator 2024 (28.1)
    • Adobe Illustrator 2025 (29.0)

  • Supported Versions:

    • Compatible with Adobe Illustrator CS6 and later, including Adobe Illustrator CC versions.

    Operating Systems:

    • Works on both macOS and Windows platforms.

  • End User License Agreement (EULA)

    Last Updated: 21.12.2024

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    This End User License Agreement (“Agreement”) is a legal agreement between you (“User” or “Licensee”) and Samolevsky.com (“Licensor”) regarding the use of the Adobe Illustrator scripts (“Software”). By downloading, installing, or using the Software, you agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.

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    1. Grant of License

    Licensor grants the User a non-exclusive, non-transferable, and revocable license to use the Software in accordance with this Agreement.

    • Free Software: If the Software is provided for free, you may use it for personal or commercial purposes without payment, subject to the restrictions outlined in this Agreement.
    • Paid Software: If the Software is provided for a fee, you may use it only after payment has been made in full.

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    2. Usage Rights

    You are permitted to:

    • Install and use the Software on devices you own or control.
    • Use the Software in your personal or commercial projects, subject to compliance with this Agreement.

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    3. Restrictions

    You may NOT:

    • Reverse engineer, decompile, or otherwise attempt to discover the source code, underlying ideas, or algorithms of the Software.
    • Reuse, incorporate, or integrate any portion of the Software into any other software, product, or project, except as expressly permitted by the Licensor in writing.
    • Resell, redistribute, or share the Software, whether in its original or modified form, without prior written consent from the Licensor.
    • Claim ownership of the Software or its underlying code.
    • Use the Software in any way that violates applicable laws or regulations.

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    4. Ownership

    The Software and all intellectual property rights therein remain the exclusive property of the Licensor. This Agreement does not transfer ownership of the Software or any intellectual property rights to the User.

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    5. Disclaimer of Warranties

    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES, OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

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    6. Limitation of Liability

    To the maximum extent permitted by law, Licensor shall not be liable for any damages, including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, arising out of or related to the use or inability to use the Software.

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    7. Termination

    This Agreement is effective until terminated. Licensor may terminate this Agreement immediately if you breach any term of this Agreement. Upon termination, you must cease all use of the Software and destroy any copies in your possession.

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    8. Updates and Support

    Licensor is not obligated to provide updates, support, or maintenance for the Software. However, updates may be provided at the sole discretion of the Licensor.

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    9. Governing Law

    This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

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    10. Entire Agreement

    This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Licensor concerning the Software and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings regarding such subject matter.

    By using the Software, you acknowledge that you have read this Agreement, understand it, and agree to be bound by its terms.

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    For any questions or concerns regarding this Agreement, please contact us at hello@samolevsky.com

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Your Complete Adobe Illustrator Productivity Hub

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Required Software

Adobe Illustrator

Learn more

Adobe Illustrator is a professional vector graphics software developed by Adobe Inc. It is widely used by designers, illustrators, and artists for creating a variety of digital artwork, including logos, icons, illustrations, typography, and complex design layouts. Illustrator is known for its precision and scalability, allowing users to create high-quality graphics that can be resized without losing clarity. Its features include powerful drawing tools, customizable brushes, advanced typography options, and seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Illustrator is a go-to tool for creative professionals working on projects for print, web, and multimedia platforms.

  • 🅰 Locating the Scripts Folder

    To install a Average Colors.jsx script in Adobe Illustrator, you need to place it in the correct directory where Illustrator
can recognize it. Follow these steps to locate the Scripts folder:

    1. MacOS:
      Open Finder and navigate to:
      Applications/Adobe Illustrator <Version>/Presets/<Language>/Scripts
    2. Windows:
      Open File Explorer and navigate to:
      C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <Version>\Presets\<Language>\Scripts
    3. Replace <Version> with your Adobe Illustrator version (e.g., 2025).
    4. Replace <Language> with your language folder (e.g., "de_DE" for German, "en_US" for English).

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    🅱 Installing the Script

    1. Copy the Script File: Copy the Average Colors.jsx file to the Scripts folder located in the path above.
    2. On some systems, you may need administrator permissions to modify the Scripts folder.
    3. Restart Adobe Illustrator: To refresh the scripts menu, close and reopen Adobe Illustrator.

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    Explore our complete guide to mastering Adobe Illustrator scripts.

    1. Open Adobe Illustrator and ensure a document is active.
    2. Go to the top menu bar and select File > Scripts.
    3. If the script is installed in the Scripts folder, it will appear in the dropdown list.
    4. Click the Average Colors script to run it.
    5. The Average Colors script will execute, and any dialog boxes or results will appear based on the script’s functionality.

    ☻ Before running any scripts, it’s strongly advised to save your work — especially when working with complex or large documents.

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