Random Point Jitter
Script for Adobe Illustrator
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Functionality
Random Point Jitter is an Adobe Illustrator script that randomly shifts anchor points and/or Bezier handles of selected paths. This allows for controlled randomness in vector artwork, useful for adding organic imperfections, hand-drawn effects, or artistic distortions. Users can set horizontal and vertical displacement ranges, choose the jittering mode, and control how many points are affected.
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Installation
- Place the script in your Illustrator Scripts folder:
MacOS: /Applications/Adobe Illustrator <Version>/Presets/<Language>/Scripts
Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <Version>\Presets\<Language>\Scripts
- Restart Adobe Illustrator to load the script into the File > Scripts menu.
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Using the Script
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Select Objects
Select one or more objects in your Adobe Illustrator document that you wish to adjust.
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Run the Script
Go to File > Scripts > Random Point Jitter to launch the script.
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Adjust Jitter Settings
Upon running, a dialog window will appear with the following components:
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➊ Select a Jitter Mode
The 'Jitter Mode' dropdown menu in the script allows users to select how the jitter effect is applied to the path points. It provides three modes of operation:
1.1 Shift anchor points and Bezier handles
- Moves both the anchor points (the main points defining the path) and their Bezier handles (which control curve direction and smoothness).
- This mode provides the most drastic change, as both the shape and curvature of the path will be affected.
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1.2 Shift only anchor points (Default option)
- Moves only the anchor points while keeping the Bezier handles unchanged.
- This alters the overall shape of the path but maintains the existing curve directions.
- Useful for introducing randomness while keeping the sharp corners or smoothness of curves intact.
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1.3 Shift only Bezier handles
- Moves only the Bezier handles, keeping the anchor points in their original positions.
- This changes the curvature of the path without modifying its structure.
- Ideal for subtly altering the flow of curved paths without distorting their general shape.
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Each selection immediately updates the jitter effect, allowing users to preview how the path is affected in real time.
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➋ Adjust Horizontal Displacement Range
The ↔︎ Horizontal Displacement section controls how much the selected points (anchor points and/or Bezier handles) move left or right when applying the jitter effect. This section consists of two adjustable settings:
2.1 Minimum Horizontal Displacement (← Min)
- Defines the smallest possible leftward movement of points.
- Negative values move points to the left.
- Positive values reduce the leftward movement limit.
Example: Setting Min to -250 px means points can move left by up to 250 pixels.
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2.2 Maximum Horizontal Displacement (→ Max)
- Defines the largest possible rightward movement of points.
- Positive values move points to the right.
- Negative values reduce the rightward movement limit.
Example: Setting Max to 300 px means points can move right by up to 300 pixels.
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How it Works
- The script randomly assigns each affected point a movement value between the Min and Max range.
- Example: If Min = -250 px and Max = 300 px, each point will shift horizontally somewhere between 250 pixels left and 300 pixels right.
- If both Min and Max are set to 0, no horizontal movement occurs.
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Adjustments
- Sliders provide an easy way to set values within -1000px to 1000px.
- Input fields allow precise value entry for fine-tuned control.
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The Horizontal Displacement section gives users control over randomized left-right shifting, allowing for both subtle and extreme effects.
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➌ Adjust Vertical Displacement Range
The ↕︎ Vertical Displacement section controls how much the selected points (anchor points and/or Bezier handles) move up or down when applying the jitter effect. This section includes two adjustable settings:
3.1. Minimum Vertical Displacement (↓ Min)
- Defines the smallest possible downward movement of points.
- Negative values move points downward.
- Positive values reduce the downward movement limit.
Example: Setting Min to -180 px means points can move down by up to 180 pixels.
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3.2 Maximum Vertical Displacement (↑ Max)
- Defines the largest possible upward movement of points.
- Positive values move points upward.
- Negative values reduce the upward movement limit.
Example: Setting Max to 270 px means points can move up by up to 270 pixels.
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How it Works
- The script randomly assigns each affected point a movement value between the Min and Max range.
- Example: If Min = -180 px and Max = 270 px, each point will shift vertically somewhere between 180 pixels down and 270 pixels up.
- If both Min and Max are set to 0, no vertical movement occurs.
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Adjustments
- Sliders provide an easy way to set values within -1000px to 1000px.
- Input fields allow precise value entry for fine-tuned control.
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This section provides control over randomized up-down shifting, useful for adding organic movement and natural variations to vector paths.
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➍ Set Percentage of Affected Points
The 'Points to Affect' section controls how many points in the selected paths will be affected by the jitter effect. Instead of applying the jitter to all points, this setting allows for partial randomization, creating a more organic look.
Functionality
- The percentage value determines the proportion of anchor points and/or Bezier handles that will move.
- A higher percentage results in more points being affected, while a lower percentage limits the effect to a smaller subset.
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How it Works
- The script randomly selects a number of points based on the chosen percentage.
- This section is useful for adding controlled randomness, ensuring that only a selected portion of points is affected rather than all at once.
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Example: If a path has 100 points and the percentage is set to 50%, only 50 points will be moved randomly. If the percentage is set to 100%, all points will be shifted.
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➎ Finalizing Changes
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OK Button – Applies the jitter effect and closes the window.
Cancel Button – Restores the original points and closes the window.
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➏ Additional Notes
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Keyboard Shortcuts:
- Up/Down Arrow keys increases/decreases input values in 1 px.
- Shift + Up/Down Arrow keys increases/decreases values in larger steps (10px).
- Ctrl (Command) + Up/Down Arrow keys makes finer adjustments (0.1px).
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Open User Guide
- Clicking ⏼ icon in the bottom right corner of the panel opens the user guide in a web browser.
- This provides additional instructions and details on how to use the script.
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Overall, the Random Point Jitter script provides a powerful yet intuitive way to introduce controlled randomness to vector paths in Adobe Illustrator. By adjusting jitter settings for anchor points and Bezier handles, users can create natural-looking variations in their artwork.
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