Move by Distance

Script for Adobe Illustrator

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Description

Move by Distance moves selected Illustrator artwork by an exact distance. Choose a basic direction or custom angle, preview the result on the artboard, and either move the original artwork or create multiple instances along the movement path.

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Features

Move by Distance combines precise positioning with flexible controls for everyday layout and production work.

  • Five directions: Move artwork Left, Right, Up, Down, or at a Custom angle.
  • Exact distance: Enter any distance in the document's current ruler units.
  • Inline calculations: Enter calculations directly in any numeric field.
  • Adjustable Step: Control the size of keyboard and scrollbar adjustments.
  • Custom Angle controls: Set the angle with a field, scrollbar, dial, or Vector Nudge pad.
  • Move Only mode: Reposition the selected artwork without creating copies.
  • Instances mode: Keep the original and create 2–100 distributed copies.
  • Flexible spacing: Choose Linear, Ease In, Ease Out, or Ease Both distribution.
  • Output options: Group repeated arrangements or reverse their stacking order.
  • Live Preview: Review changes directly on the artboard before applying them.
  • View controls: Hide selection edges or fit the result in the active window.
  • Persistent settings: Reuse settings from the last successful operation.

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Installation

1. Download the Move by Distance.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 > Move by Distance

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

Prepare the document before opening Move by Distance.

  1. Open an Illustrator document containing artwork.
  2. Select one or more objects.
  3. Choose File > Scripts > Move by Distance.

The script requires an open document and an active selection. Hide Edges may hide the selection outline when the dialog opens, but the artwork remains selected.

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image gallery

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➊ Choose a Direction

Choose the direction in which the artwork should move.

  • Left: Moves along the negative horizontal axis.
  • Right: Moves along the positive horizontal axis.
  • Up: Moves along the positive vertical axis.
  • Down: Moves along the negative vertical axis.
  • Custom: Moves at the angle set in the Custom Angle panel.

Only one direction can be active. Selecting Custom reveals the angle controls; choosing a basic direction hides them again.

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➋ Set the Distance and Step

Distance controls how far the artwork moves. The panel title shows the document's current ruler unit.

  • Enter a positive value to move in the selected direction.
  • Enter a negative value to move in the opposite direction.
  • Type a value directly or use the scrollbar for values from 0 to 5000.
  • Enter calculations such as 100/2, 5*12, or (20+10)/2.
  • Click the Distance reset control to return to 0.

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Step controls the size of keyboard and scrollbar adjustments.

  • Press Up or Down in the Distance field to adjust it by Step.
  • Hold Shift while pressing Up or Down to adjust it by 10× Step.
  • Click the Step title to reset Step to 1.
  • Use a positive Step value.

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➌ Configure a Custom Angle

Choose Custom to move artwork in any direction.

  • Type an angle in the numeric field.
  • Use the scrollbar for quick adjustments.
  • Drag the circular dial to set the direction visually.
  • Hold Shift while dragging the dial to snap to 15° increments.
  • Enter calculations such as 360/8.

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Angles follow Illustrator's artboard directions.

  • 0°: Right.
  • 90°: Up.
  • 180°: Left.
  • 270°: Down.

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The Vector Nudge pad adjusts the current movement as a horizontal and vertical vector.

  • Click one of the eight arrows to move the vector by Step.
  • Hold Shift to move it by 10× Step.
  • Drag the center horizontally to adjust Step.
  • Double-click the center to reset Distance and Angle to 0.

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➍ Choose Move Only or Instances

Choose how the selected artwork should be placed.

  • Move Only: Moves the original artwork by the full Distance without creating copies.
  • Instances: Keeps the original in place and creates 2–100 copies along the movement path.

In Instances mode, Distance defines the complete path to an imaginary endpoint. The copies are placed between the original and that endpoint. For example, two instances on a 300 px path appear at 100 px and 200 px.

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Additional instance options control the final output.

  • Instances: Sets the number of copies created for each selected object.
  • Group: Keeps each repeated multi-object arrangement together.
  • Reverse Stacking: Reverses the front-to-back order of overlapping copies.
  • An instance count of 1 switches the script back to Move Only.
  • Counts of 50 or more require confirmation before artwork is created.

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➎ Choose Instance Spacing

Spacing controls how the gaps between instances change along the path.

  • Linear: Uses equal gaps between every placement.
  • Ease In: Starts with smaller gaps and gradually increases them.
  • Ease Out: Starts with larger gaps and gradually decreases them.
  • Ease Both: Uses smaller gaps near both ends and larger gaps in the middle.

The Placement panel displays the resulting interval. Linear spacing shows one value; eased spacing shows the smallest and largest gaps.

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➏ Preview and View Controls

Use these controls to inspect the result before applying it.

  • Preview: Shows the current movement or instances on the artboard.
  • Hide Edges: Hides selection edges and the bounding box without deselecting artwork.
  • Zoom: Fits the original artwork and previewed result in the active window.

Turning Preview off removes preview copies and restores the original positions. For complex artwork or high instance counts, keep Preview off while making large changes and enable it for the final check.

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➐ Apply or Cancel

Finish the operation with the buttons at the bottom of the dialog.

  • OK: Applies the current result and saves the settings for the next session.
  • Cancel: Removes the preview and restores the artwork and view to their launch state.
  • Option/Alt-click Cancel: Resets the numeric controls without closing the dialog.
  • User Guide: Opens the built-in guide.
  • Support: Opens the Patreon page.

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➑ Keyboard Shortcuts

Use these shortcuts for faster adjustments.

  • Enter or Return: Confirms the active numeric value or calculation.
  • Tab or Shift+Tab: Moves through the controls.
  • Up or Down: Adjusts the active numeric field by its normal increment.
  • Shift+Up or Shift+Down: Uses the larger increment.
  • Left or Right: Changes the selected placement mode when that control is focused.
  • Arrow keys on the Nudge pad: Moves the vector by Step.
  • Shift-drag on the angle dial: Snaps to 15° increments.
  • Click a reset control: Restores that value to its default.
  • Right-click a reset control: Restores all adjustable values.
  • Escape: Cancels and closes the dialog.

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➒ Settings and Persistence

Move by Distance remembers the settings from the last operation completed with OK.

  • Direction and Custom Angle.
  • Distance and Step.
  • Move Only or Instances mode.
  • Instance count and spacing.
  • Grouping and stacking options.
  • Preview, Hide Edges, and Zoom states.
  • Dialog size and position.

Cancel and Close do not replace the saved settings. Reset controls change only the current session until OK is clicked.

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☻ Summary

Move by Distance provides a clear, visual workflow for moving Illustrator artwork or creating precisely distributed instances. Its live preview, custom angles, spacing choices, and output controls make repeated placement tasks faster while keeping every change easy to review.

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Move by Distance

Version: 2.0.4

Updated:

Download Move by Distance

    • 2.0.3: Replaced the Custom Angle, Distance, and Step fields with painted numeric inputs featuring split up/down steppers, vertical drag adjustment, mouse-wheel support, focus and hover states, and right-click reset.
    • 2.0.2: Added accurate regular and Large Canvas distance handling, support for one-copy Instances operations, expanded ruler-unit conversion support, made Enter/Return apply through the existing OK workflow, and made Escape cancel with complete preview cleanup.
    • 2.0.1: Refined the interface, controls, preview behavior, settings, and built-in User Guide.
    • 2.0.0: Introduced the redesigned interface, Custom Angle workflow, Vector Nudge pad, Instances spacing, grouping, and reverse stacking.
    • 1.1.6: Improved instance validation, large-generation safeguards, grouping, stacking, preview performance, and keyboard access.
    • 1.1.5: Added interpolated spacing, optional grouping, and reversible instance stacking.
    • 1.1.4: Reduced the dialog height and repositioned the Step control.
    • 1.1.3: Added custom Distance and Angle scrollbars and improved repeated adjustments.
    • 1.1.2: Consolidated direction controls and made the Custom Angle panel conditional.
    • 1.1.1: Redesigned the direction selector with vector icons and theme-aware states.
    • 1.1.0: Added the custom footer with User Guide and Support controls.
    • 1.0.9: Improved interface compatibility and the custom-control foundation.
    • 1.0.8: Improved angle synchronization, snapping, and reset behavior.
    • 1.0.7: Added Custom Angle movement and the interactive angle dial.
    • 1.0.6: Added Zoom and improved view restoration.
    • 1.0.5: Improved reliability and fixed minor issues.
    • 1.0.4: Refined copy controls and preview stability.
    • 1.0.3: Improved copy mode controls and duplicate distribution.
    • 1.0.2: Added multiple evenly distributed copies.
    • 1.0.1: Added copy mode and persistent settings.
    • 1.0.0: Initial release.

  • 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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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 Move by Distance.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 Move by Distance.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 Move by Distance script to run it.
    5. The Move by Distance 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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