Bezier Handle Visualizer

Bezier Handle Visualizer

Script for Adobe Illustrator

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Description

The Bezier Handle Visualizer is an Adobe Illustrator script that helps designers and artists better understand and work with Bezier curves by creating a visual representation of control points, handles, and paths. This tool visualizes the underlying structure of curves by displaying anchor points, direction handles, and the connecting lines that control curve shapes.

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Key Features

  • Visualize anchor points and direction handles for any path.
  • Customize the size of anchor points and handles.
  • Choose colors for each element.
  • Adjust stroke thickness for handle lines and Bezier paths.
  • Convert text to outlines and strokes to paths directly in script.

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Before / After

 

 

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Installation

1. Download the Bezier Handle Visualizer.jsx script file.

2. Place it 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 Illustrator if it's already running.

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How to Use

  1. Open Adobe Illustrator and create or open a document with vector paths.
  2. Select the paths or text frames you want to visualize.
  3. Run the script by going to File > Scripts > Bezier Handle Visualizer.
  4. Adjust settings in the dialog box to customize the visualization.
  5. Click OK button to apply the visualization.

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➊ Settings

Use the sliders or input fields to adjust the size and thickness of the visualization elements.

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1.1 Anchor Point Size:

  • Controls the size of square markers at path anchor points.

1.2 Direction Handle Size:

  • Controls the size of circular markers at Bezier curve handles.

1.3 Handle Line Thickness:

  • Adjusts the thickness of lines connecting anchor points to their handles.

1.4 Bezier Path Thickness:

  • Controls the stroke weight of the actual Bezier path.

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Set Visibility Options

  • Use checkboxes to show/hide specific elements.
  • Uncheck elements you don't need to simplify the visualization.

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Customize Colors

  • Click color swatches to open the color picker.
  • Set different colors for each element type.
  • Use "Link All Colors" to keep colors consistent.

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Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Use Up/Down arrow keys when focused on input fields to increment/decrement values.
  • Hold Shift while using arrows for larger increments.

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➋ Convert to Outlines

Outline Conversions: Use the 'Outline Text' and 'Outline Stroke' buttons to convert selected objects.

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2.1 Outline Text

  • Converts selected text frames to outlines for path editing.

2.2 Outline Stroke

  • Converts selected paths' strokes to filled outlines.

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Linking Options: Enable the linking checkboxes to synchronize related settings.

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2.3 Link Anchor and Handle Size:

  • When checked, both anchor points and direction handles will maintain the same size.

2.4 Link Handle and Path Thickness:

  • When checked, handle lines and Bezier paths will have the same thickness.

2.5 Link All Colors:

  • Use "Link All Colors" to keep colors consistent.

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➌ Applying Changes

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OK Button

  • Applies all current settings and closes the dialog.

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Cancel Button

  • Removes the preview visualization.
  • Closes the dialog without applying changes.

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User Guide

  • Remember that you can always access this guide by clicking the help icon ⏼ in the script dialog.

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Key Benefits

  1. Customizable visualization helps you understand path construction.
  2. Color-coded elements make path components easily distinguishable.
  3. Interactive controls allow real-time adjustments.
  4. Integrated text and stroke outline conversion streamlines your workflow.

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☻ Wrap-Up

The Bezier Handle Visualizer helps you work with vector paths in Adobe Illustrator by making Bezier curves more intuitive and easier to understand.

With its real-time visualization of anchor points, direction handles, and paths, you can better grasp the relationship between these elements and create more precise artwork.

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Bezier Handle Visualizer

Version: 1.1.0

Updated:

Download Bezier Handle Visualizer

  • 1.0.0 – Initial release.
    1.0.3 – Settings persistence: The script now remembers your preferences between sessions.
    1.0.4 – Fixed bug preventing script execution when the top layer is locked or hidden.
    1.0.5 – Reorganized UI for better usability: Changed the UI elements from sliders to scrollbars.
    1.0.6 – Color customization: HSL sliders replaced with individual color controls for anchor points, direction handles, handle lines, and bezier paths.
    1.0.7 – Color buttons now display current color selections visually.
    1.0.8 – Enhanced visibility controls: Toggle the visibility of each element type independently.
    1.0.9 – Color linking option: New checkbox to synchronize all colors at once.
    1.1.0 – Enhanced compatibility with various path types. More comprehensive error handling throughout the script.

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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

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 Bezier Handle Visualizer.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 Bezier Handle Visualizer.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 Bezier Handle Visualizer script to run it.
    5. The Bezier Handle Visualizer 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.

Got questions?

Need help or have an idea to share? We’d love to hear from you! Whether you have questions, found a bug, have a feature request, or just want to share your feedback, reach out to us—we’re here for you! 

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