Script for Adobe Illustrator

✦ Available exclusively on Patreon for Pro supporters.

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Description

Color Fill is a powerful Adobe Illustrator script that allows you to quickly override and recolor multiple selected objects with a single color. Whether you're working with paths, text, groups, or compound paths, this script provides an intuitive interface with multiple color input modes, real-time preview, and granular control over which color properties to modify.

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Key Features

• Multiple Color Input Modes: Choose your preferred color input method: HEX, RGB, CMYK, or HSL
• Color Palette: Access curated color palettes
• Document Swatches: Select colors directly from your document's color swatches with searchable list
• Custom Presets: Save and manage your own favorite color presets
• Selective Color Override: Choose which color properties to modify: Fill. Stroke or Text Color
• Real-Time Preview: See changes instantly before applying them
• Hide Edges Mode: Toggle object selection visibility for cleaner preview

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Installation

1. Download the Color Fill.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. The script will appear in File > Scripts > Color Fill.

5. Alternatively, you can run the script without installation by going to File > Scripts > Other Script... and selecting the file.

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Using the Script

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Select Your Objects

1. Open your Adobe Illustrator document
2. Use the Selection Tool (V) to select one or more objects you want to recolor
3. Ensure your selection includes at least one supported object type with colorable properties:

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Supported Object Types

• Paths - Paths and compound paths with fill and/or stroke
• Text Frames - Text objects
• Groups - processes all nested items

Not Supported

• Raster images
• Placed items
• Symbols
• Gradient Meshes
• Effects

Run the Script

1. Go to File > Scripts > Color Fill 
2. The Color Fill dialog window will appear.
3. The dialog is organized into four main tabs: New Color, Swatches, Palette, and Presets.

➊ New Color Tab

This tab provides four different color input modes. Choose the one that best fits your workflow.

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Mode 1: HEX

1. Enter Hex Code: Type a hexadecimal color code in the format #RRGGBB (e.g., #FF0000 for red)
2. Click Color Swatch: Click the colored rectangle to open the system color picker
3. Save as Preset: Click the + Save as Preset button to add the current color to your Custom Presets tab
4. The color updates in real-time as you type or pick

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Tips:

• The hex input accepts both uppercase and lowercase
• The leading # is optional but recommended
• Invalid hex codes will not update the color

Mode 2: RGB

1. Adjust Scrollbars: Drag the scrollbars for Red (R), Green (G), and Blue (B)
2. Type Values: Enter precise values (0-255) in the input fields
3. Use Arrow Keys: Click in an input field and use:
4. Up/Down arrows: Adjust by 1
5. Shift + Up/Down: Adjust by 10
6. Right-Click Reset: Right-click any scrollbar to reset that channel to 0

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Example:

• Pure Red: R=255, G=0, B=0
• Pure Green: R=0, G=255, B=0
• Pure Blue: R=0, G=0, B=255
• White: R=255, G=255, B=255
• Black: R=0, G=0, B=0

Mode 3: CMYK

1. Adjust Scrollbars: Drag the scrollbars for Cyan (C), Magenta (M), Yellow (Y), and Black (K)
2. Type Values: Enter precise values (0-100) in the input fields
3. Right-Click Reset: Right-click any scrollbar to reset that channel to 0

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Note: CMYK values are automatically converted to RGB for display and application.

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Example:

• Pure Cyan: C=100, M=0, Y=0, K=0
• Pure Magenta: C=0, M=100, Y=0, K=0
• Pure Yellow: C=0, M=0, Y=100, K=0

Mode 4: HSL

1 Hue (H): Set the color hue (0-360 degrees)

• 0° = Red
• 120° = Green
• 240° = Blue

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2 Saturation (S): Set color intensity (0-100%)

• 0% = Grayscale
• 100% = Full color

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3 Lightness (L): Set brightness (0-100%)

• 0% = Black
• 50% = Pure color
• 100% = White

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Note: HSL values are automatically converted to RGB for application.

➋ Swatches Tab

This tab allows you to pick colors from your document's existing color swatches.

Using Document Swatches

1. Browse Swatches: Scroll through the list of available color swatches
2. Search: Type in the search field to filter swatches by name
3. Select: Click on a swatch name to apply that color
4. Clear Search: Click the ✖ button to clear the search filter

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Supported Swatch Types:

• RGB Color
• CMYK Color
• Gray Color
• Spot Color

Note: Gradients, patterns, and the "None" swatch are automatically filtered out.

➌ Palette Tab

This tab offers a curated collection of color palettes for quick selection.

1. Browse Categories: Scroll through categories like BW, Gray, Red, Pink, Grape, etc.
2. Select Color: Click any color square to apply it immediately
3. Row Layout: Colors are displayed in a grid (10 per row) for easy scanning

➍ Presets Tab

This tab stores your custom saved colors.

1. View Presets: Your saved colors are displayed in a 2-column list.
2. Apply Preset: Click on the color swatch or the hex code to apply the color.
3. Delete Preset: Click the ✖ button next to a preset to remove it from your list.
4. Scrolling: If you have many presets, a scrollbar will appear.

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How to Save a Preset:

• Go to the New Color > HEX tab
• Set your desired color
• Click + Save as Preset

Recolor Options

At the bottom of the dialog, you'll find three checkboxes that control which color properties will be modified:

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☑ Fill Color

• When checked: Overrides the fill color of paths and compound paths
• Automatically disabled if no fillable items are in the selection

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☑ Stroke Color

• When checked: Overrides the stroke color of paths and compound paths
• Automatically disabled if no strokeable items are in the selection

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☑ Text Color

• When checked: Overrides both fill and stroke colors of text objects
• Automatically disabled if no text items are in the selection

Note: At least one option must be enabled to apply changes.

Preview Options

☑ Preview

• Enabled: See color changes applied to your selection in real-time as you adjust values
• Disabled: Changes are only applied when you click OK

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Benefits of Preview Mode:

• Instant visual feedback
• Experiment with different colors before committing
• See how colors look in context with your design

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☑ Hide Edges

• Enabled: Hides the selection edges (blue outlines) for a cleaner preview
• Disabled: Shows selection edges normally

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Tip: Use Hide Edges with Preview enabled to see exactly how your recolored objects will look without visual clutter.

Buttons

Cancel Button

• Closes the dialog without applying changes
• Restores all original colors if preview was enabled
• Restores selection if Hide Edges was enabled

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✚ Zoom Button

• Fits the current selection in the window
• Useful for focusing on your selected objects
• Zooms to 85% of the selection bounds for comfortable viewing

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OK Button

• Applies the color changes to your selection
• Saves your current settings (color, checkboxes, preview state) for next time
• Closes the dialog

☻ Summary

Color Fill eliminates the tedious manual process of recoloring complex selections with mixed appearances in Adobe Illustrator. 

By providing a unified interface to instantly update fills, strokes, and text across multiple objects, this script transforms a time-consuming chore into a single, efficient action. We hope this tool brings effortless precision to your workflow and saves you valuable time on every project!

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