Script for Adobe Illustrator

✦ Available exclusively on Patreon for Pro supporters.

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Description

Batch Layer Color Customizer is a powerful Adobe Illustrator script that streamlines layer management by enabling bulk color changes across multiple layers simultaneously. Layer colors in Illustrator help visually organize your work, making it easier to identify and manage different elements in complex documents. The script offers four flexible coloring modes with real-time visual previews, ensuring you see exactly how your layers will look before applying changes.

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Features

• Custom Color: Apply a single color of your choice to selected layers.
• Active Layer Color: Copy the color from your currently active layer to other layers.
• Random Colors: Automatically assign random colors to each selected layer with adjustable Randomization Intensity.
• Smooth Color Transition: Create a gradient effect across layers, transitioning smoothly from a start color (top layer) to an end color (bottom layer).
• Manual Overrides: Set specific colors for individual layers directly within the list.
• Advanced Search & Filtering: Quickly find layers by name and toggle sublayer visibility.
• Real-Time Preview: Layer color swatches update instantly as you adjust settings.
• Locked Layer Awareness: Locked layers are clearly marked and skipped during color application.

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Installation

1. Download the Batch Layer Color Customizer.jsx script file.

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

⮑ Mac: /Applications/Adobe Illustrator /Presets//Scripts

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

3. Restart Adobe Illustrator if it's already running

4. Access the script via File > Scripts > Batch Layer Color Customizer

5. Alternatively, run it directly via File > Scripts > Other Script... and browse to the file location

Tip: You can also drag and drop the .jsx file directly onto the Illustrator workspace to run the script instantly – no installation needed.

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Using the Script

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Launch the Script

Make sure you have an Adobe Illustrator document open with the layers you want to recolor. The script will not run without an open document, and the document must contain at least one layer.

Go to File > Scripts > Batch Layer Color Customizer, or use File > Scripts > Other Script... and navigate to the script file. You can also drag and drop the .jsx file onto the Illustrator workspace to run it instantly.

• The script dialog will appear with multiple options:

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Select Layers to Recolor

The dialog displays all layers in your document. You can filter and select specific layers to apply color changes.

• Search: Use the search bar to filter layers by name. Click the ✖ (Clear) button to quickly reset the filter.
• Show Sublayers (Checked – Default): Displays all layers and nested sublayers.
• Show Sublayers (Unchecked): Displays and affects only top-level parent layers. Sublayers will be hidden and excluded from color changes. This option is disabled if the document contains no sublayers.

Selection controls include individual checkboxes for each layer, as well as Select All, Deselect All, and Invert Selection buttons that operate on the currently visible layers.

Locked layers appear in the list with a (locked) indicator for reference, but they will be skipped during color application.

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Choose a Color Mode & Customize

Select one of the four available color modes. As you adjust settings, the layer list swatches will update in real-time to preview the results.

• Specify Custom Color: Select the radio button, then click the color swatch or the Custom Color label to open the color picker. Alternatively, enter a hex color code in the input field (e.g., FF0000 for red).
• Randomize Layer Colors: Select the radio button and click Randomize to shuffle the color seeds. Adjust the Intensity (1–100) to control how drastically the colors change from their original state. Use the Up/Down arrow keys in the intensity field to fine-tune (hold Shift for increments of 10).
• Use Active Layer Color: Select the radio button, and the script will apply the color from your currently active layer to all selected layers.
• Smooth Color Transition: Select the radio button, click Color 1 (Top) to set the starting color for the topmost layer, and click Color 2 (Bottom) to set the ending color for the bottommost layer. The script creates a smooth gradient between these colors across all selected layers.

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Apply Manual Overrides (Optional)

You can set a specific color for any layer, regardless of the selected global mode. Click a layer's color swatch in the list to open the color picker for that layer, or enter a hex code in the input field next to the layer name. Manual overrides remain fixed even if you switch global modes.

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Apply the Changes

Click OK to apply the color changes to all selected layers, or click Cancel to exit without making any changes. If you're not satisfied with the results, simply press Ctrl/Cmd + Z to undo instantly.

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☻ Wrap-Up

Batch Layer Color Customizer transforms a tedious manual chore into a fast, visual, and flexible workflow. With four distinct coloring modes, real-time previews, and granular per-layer overrides, you have complete control over how your document is organized at a glance.

Install it once, and keep your Layers panel clean, readable, and beautifully color-coded across every project.

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