Long Shadow

Long Shadow

Script for Adobe Illustrator

✦ Available exclusively on Patreon for Pro supporters.

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Description

Long Shadow is a powerful script that generates smooth, customizable long shadow effects for paths, text frames, compound paths, and groups in Adobe Illustrator. The script features a live preview interface with intuitive controls, allowing you to fine-tune your shadow effect in real-time before applying it.

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Key Features

  • Live Preview: See changes instantly as you adjust parameters
  • Hide Edges: Hide selection edges and bounding boxes for a clearer view of the effect
  • Multiple Object Support: Works with paths, text frames, compound paths, placed and embedded images, and groups
  • Curved Path Support: Accurately samples bezier curves for smooth shadow rendering
  • Perspective Control: Adjust end scale to create vanishing point effects
  • Color Picker: Choose any color for your shadow with hex input or visual picker
  • Persistent Settings: Saves your preferences between sessions
  • Fit to Window: Zoom control to view your entire selection with shadow

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Before / After

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Installation

1. Download the Long Shadow.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 > Long Shadow

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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Prepare Your Artwork

  1. Open an Adobe Illustrator document
  2. Select one or more objects (paths, text, compound paths, images, or groups)
  3. Ensure your objects have a fill color (the script will sample this color for the shadow)

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Launch the Script

  • Go to File > Scripts > Long Shadow
  • The dialog window will appear with your current selection:

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Adjust Shadow Parameters

The dialog provides five main controls:

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➊ Angle

  • Controls the direction of the shadow
  • Default: 45°
  • Tip: Use arrow keys for fine adjustment (Shift + arrow for 10° increments)
  • Right-click the slider to reset to default

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Long Shadow Angle 45° and 90°

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➋ Size

  • Determines how long the shadow extends
  • Default: 100 px
  • Tip: Values can exceed 1000 by typing directly in the input field
  • Right-click the slider to reset to default

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Long Shadow Size 50 and 150

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➌ Opacity

  • Controls shadow transparency
  • Default: 50%
  • Tip: Lower values create subtle shadows, higher values create bold shadows
  • Right-click the slider to reset to default

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Long Shadow Opacity 100% and 25%

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➍ Scale

  • Adjusts the end shape size for perspective effects
  • Default: 100% (no scaling)
  • 0%: Creates a vanishing point effect
  • 100%: Maintains original shape size
  • >100%: Enlarges the shadow end for reverse perspective
  • Right-click the slider to reset to default

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image galleryimage gallery
Long Shadow Scale 100% and 50%

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➎ Color

  • Choose the shadow fill color
  • Hex Input: Type a hex color code (e.g., #FF0000 for red)
  • Color Swatch: Click to open the color picker
  • Default: Automatically sampled from your selected object

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Before / After Long Shadow Color Adjustments

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Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Up/Down Arrow: Adjust values by 1
  • Shift + Up/Down Arrow: Adjust values by 10
  • Right-click Slider: Reset to default value

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Use Preview Mode

  • Preview Checkbox: Enable to see changes in real-time
  • When enabled, the shadow updates automatically as you adjust parameters
  • Disable preview to make adjustments without applying them
  • Hide Edges Checkbox: Hide the bounding box and selection paths of your objects to get a cleaner view of your artwork while fine-tuning the shadow.

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Fine-Tune Your View

  • Zoom Button (✚): Click to fit your selection and shadow in the window
  • Useful for viewing the complete effect, especially with large shadow sizes

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Apply or Cancel

  • OK: Applies the shadow effect and closes the dialog
  • Cancel: Discards changes and closes the dialog
  • The script automatically saves your settings for next time

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☻ Wrap Up

Whether you're creating sleek UI elements, adding depth to flat illustrations, or experimenting with vanishing points, Long Shadow gives you complete control over your creative vision.

Enjoy exploring the possibilities and bringing your vector, raster, and placed artwork to life with stunning, precise shadows!

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Long Shadow

Version: 1.0.6

Updated:

Download Long Shadow

  • 1.0.0 – Initial release.
    1.0.1 – Minor UI improvement.
    1.0.2 – Fixed the overlapping opacity issue for grouped paths. Opacity is now applied to the unified group rather than individual shadow layers, eliminating ugly overlapping opacity doubling and keeping the layer structure much cleaner.
    1.0.3 – The script now calculates the total anchor points of your selection before running. If the selection contains more than 1,000 anchor points, a warning prompt is displayed to prevent accidental Illustrator freezes, giving you the option to cancel or proceed.
    1.0.4 – Added a new "Hide Edges" checkbox. This allows you to temporarily hide bounding boxes and selection highlights while previewing your shadow adjustments, giving you a much clearer view of the final result.
    1.0.5 – Added support for raster and placed images.
    1.0.6 – Upgraded the shadow generation algorithm to perfectly preserve the initial bezier smoothness of curved paths.

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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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Introducing ScriptBox

Your Complete Adobe Illustrator Productivity Hub

Install Extension

➊ Toolbox

Access to 200+ pre-built scripts organized in categories.

➋ Script Launcher

Load and manage third-party scripts from custom folders.

➌ Panel Manager

Quick access to toggle Adobe Illustrator's built-in panels

➍ Favourites

Save frequently used scripts and panels for quick access.

➎ Code Editor

Write, edit, and execute custom ExtendScript/JavaScript code.

➏ Task Manager

An integrated to-do list that helps you track design tasks and jot down your ideas.

➐ Video Player

Create your own personal video library and watch YouTube videos right within the extension.

➑ Image Gallery

A visual moodboard allowing you to keep inspiration and reference materials right in your workspace while you design.

☻ Info

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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 Long Shadow.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 Long Shadow.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 Long Shadow script to run it.
    5. The Long Shadow 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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