Script for Adobe Illustrator

✦ Available exclusively on Patreon for Pro supporters.

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Description

Paste to Replace is a modeless Adobe Illustrator script that replaces one or more selected objects with artwork from the clipboard. It provides precise sizing and nine-point alignment, selectable visible or geometric bounds, optional preservation of the original targets, top-level appearance matching, and a searchable built-in User Guide.

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Features

Paste to Replace combines repeatable clipboard placement with compact controls and safeguards for dependable replacement workflows.

• Multiple targets. Replace every outermost selected object with the same clipboard artwork in one operation.
• Two paste actions. Replace each target or paste a copy while keeping the original artwork.
• Three sizing modes. Keep the clipboard dimensions, fit proportionally within the target, or stretch to its exact width and height.
• Nine-point alignment. Align the pasted artwork by any corner, edge midpoint, or center point.
• Explicit bounds modes. Use Visible Bounds to include strokes and appearance, or Geometric Bounds to use path geometry only.
• Live preview. Review the selected sizing behavior and reference-point placement before running the action.
• Appearance matching. Optionally apply each target's opacity and blending mode to the pasted top-level object without altering its children.
• Selection safety. Process only outermost targets and reject unsupported text-edit selections before making changes.
• Layer validation. Detect locked or hidden target layers, including unavailable parent layers, before replacement begins.
• Reliable execution. Use stable selection snapshots, zero-size safeguards, and single-job BridgeTalk processing.
• Modeless workflow. Keep the palette open while selecting new artwork and repeating replacements.
• Built-in guidance. Search a resizable User Guide containing setup instructions, control references, troubleshooting, release notes, and support resources.

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Installation

1. Download the Paste to Replace.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 > Paste to Replace

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

Open an Illustrator document, then launch Paste to Replace from the Scripts menu or by opening the JSX file directly.

• The modeless palette remains available while you work in the document.
• Center is the default reference point, Keep Size is the default sizing mode, and both appearance-matching options are enabled initially.
• The initial bounds mode follows Illustrator's Include Stroke in Bounds preference.
• Hover over a control to view a short description of its action.

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➊ Copy the Replacement Artwork

Copy the Illustrator artwork that should be placed at each target.

• Copy one object or multiple objects with Command+C on macOS or Ctrl+C on Windows.
• Multiple copied objects are grouped into one replacement when pasted.
• Keep valid Illustrator artwork on the clipboard until the replacement operation finishes.

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➋ Select the Target Artwork

Select one or more complete artwork objects to use as replacement targets.

• Each outermost selected object is processed once.
• If a group and one of its children are both selected, the group is used and the nested child is ignored.
• Exit text-edit mode and select the complete text object instead of a text range or insertion point.
• Unlock and show every target layer and all of its parent layers before continuing.
• Confirm that every selected target can be moved, translated, and removed by Illustrator.

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➌ Choose the Paste Action

Use the split paste button to decide whether each original target remains in the document.

• Paste to Replace. Paste the clipboard artwork and remove the original target.
• Paste, Keep Original. Paste the clipboard artwork while retaining the original target.
• Click the main part of the button to run the currently selected action.
• Click the arrow to open the action menu and select the other action.

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➍ Choose a Sizing Mode

Select how the clipboard artwork should be sized relative to each target.

• Keep Size. Preserve the clipboard artwork's original dimensions and align only its selected reference point.

• Fit. Scale the pasted artwork proportionally so it fits within the target bounds without changing its aspect ratio.

• Stretch. Scale width and height independently so the pasted artwork matches the target bounds exactly.

• Click the live preview to cycle through the three sizing modes.

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➎ Choose a Reference Point

Use the 3×3 selector to choose which point on the pasted artwork aligns with the corresponding point on the target.

• Choose Top Left, Top, Top Right, Left, Center, Right, Bottom Left, Bottom, or Bottom Right.
• Center is selected by default.
• Option-click on macOS or Alt-click on Windows to reset the selector to Center.
• The live preview shows the chosen alignment in Keep Size and Fit modes.
• The selector is disabled in Stretch mode because the stretched artwork already matches every target edge.

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➏ Choose a Bounds Mode

Choose which Illustrator bounds the script uses for sizing and alignment.

• Visible Bounds. Include strokes and appearance when measuring both the target and pasted artwork.
• Geometric Bounds. Use path geometry without stroke or appearance expansion.
• The initial selection follows Illustrator's Include Stroke in Bounds preference.
• Switch bounds modes when stroked artwork appears unexpectedly offset or sized.

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➐ Match the Target Appearance

Use the Match controls when replacements should inherit the target's transparency behavior.

• Opacity. Apply the target's opacity to the pasted top-level object.
• Blending Mode. Apply the target's blending mode to the pasted top-level object.
• Both controls are enabled by default.
• Child objects inside pasted groups remain unchanged, preventing compounded transparency or altered internal appearance.

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➑ Run the Replacement

Confirm the selected action and controls, then execute the replacement.

1. Click the main paste button or press Enter.
2. Wait while the script pastes, groups, sizes, aligns, and styles one replacement for each valid target.
3. Continue working when the completed replacements become the active selection.

• The script validates every target before changing the document, preventing a mixed selection from being partially processed because of an invalid target.
• Repeated clicks are ignored while a BridgeTalk replacement job is already running.
• The palette stays open so you can select another target set and repeat the workflow.

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➒ Keyboard Controls

Use these shortcuts while the main palette is active.

• Enter. Run the currently selected paste action.
• Escape. Close the palette.
• Up Arrow. Select the previous sizing mode.
• Down Arrow. Select the next sizing mode.
• Option-click or Alt-click. Reset the reference-point selector to Center.

When the built-in User Guide is open, Escape closes the guide and the Up and Down Arrow keys scroll its content.

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☻ Wrap-Up

Paste to Replace turns repetitive object swapping into a consistent workflow for individual objects and large selections. Its sizing, alignment, bounds, appearance, and validation controls keep replacements predictable, while the built-in guide and support resources make help readily available.

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