Script for Adobe Illustrator

✦ Available exclusively on Patreon for Pro supporters.

ㅤ

Description

Smart Scale is a powerful Adobe Illustrator script that provides advanced resizing capabilities for your artwork. Unlike Illustrator's built-in transform tools, Smart Scale offers precise control over object dimensions with multiple resize modes, intelligent scaling options, and a live preview feature. Whether you need to resize objects to exact dimensions, scale by percentage, or adjust sizes by adding or subtracting values, Smart Scale streamlines your workflow with an intuitive interface and flexible options.

ㅤ

Features

• Multiple Resize Modes – Set exact size, increase/decrease by amount, or scale by percentage
• Flexible Scaling Sides – Choose to scale by width, height, larger side, smaller side, or random dimension
• Live Preview – See changes in real-time before applying
• Reference Point Control – Choose any of 9 anchor points for transformation
• Measurement Options – Scale using geometric bounds or visible bounds (including stroke)
• Advanced Scaling Options – Control proportions, corner radius, stroke width, and pattern scaling
• Interactive Scrollbar – Quickly adjust values with a visual slider
• Persistent Settings – Your preferences are saved between sessions
• Zoom to Selection – Quickly fit selected objects in view
• Hide Edges Option – Deselect objects to hide bounding box while maintaining internal selection tracking

ㅤ

Installation

1. Download the Smart Scale.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 > Smart Scale

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.

ㅤ

Using the Script

ㅤ

Getting Started

Before using Smart Scale, ensure you have a document open in Adobe Illustrator with at least one object selected. The script works with all object types including paths, shapes, groups, and compound paths.

To launch the script:

• Navigate to File > Scripts > Smart Scale
• Or use File > Scripts > Other Script... and browse to the file location
• Or drag and drop the .jsx file directly onto your Illustrator workspace
• The script dialog will appear with multiple options:

ㅤ

ㅤ

ㅤ

Understanding the Interface

The Smart Scale dialog is organized into several panels that control different aspects of the resizing operation.

ㅤ

➊ Target Size Panel

This panel controls the size value you want to apply:

• Enter values manually in the input field
• Use the scrollbar to adjust values visually (range: 1-16383)
• The units label displays your current document units (px, pt, mm, cm, in, etc.)
• Use Up/Down arrow keys for ±1 increments
• Use Shift+Up/Down for ±10 increments
• Right-click the scrollbar to reset to 0 (Add/Subtract modes) or 100% (Percentage mode)

ㅤ

➋ Resize Mode Panel

Choose how the size value is applied to your objects:

• Set Exact Size – Resize objects to the exact specified dimension
• Increase by Amount – Add the specified value to the current size
• Decrease by Amount – Subtract the specified value from the current size
• Scale by Percentage – Resize by percentage (100% equals original size)

ㅤ

➌ Reference Point Panel

Select the anchor point for transformation using the 9-point grid. The transformation will occur relative to the selected anchor point:

• Top row: Top Left, Top Center, Top Right
• Middle row: Middle Left, Center, Middle Right
• Bottom row: Bottom Left, Bottom Center, Bottom Right

ㅤ

➍ Measure Panel

Choose how object dimensions are calculated:

• Geometric Bounds – Measures the object's bounding box excluding stroke width
• Visible Bounds – Measures the object's bounding box including stroke width

ㅤ

➎ Scaling Side Panel

Determine which dimension to use for resizing:

• Scale by Width – Resize based on horizontal dimension
• Scale by Height – Resize based on vertical dimension
• Scale by Larger Side – Resize based on the larger dimension (width or height)
• Scale by Smaller Side – Resize based on the smaller dimension
• Scale by Random Side – Randomly choose width or height for each object

ㅤ

➏ Scaling Options Panel

Fine-tune how scaling affects object properties:

• Maintain Proportions – Scale proportionally maintaining aspect ratio (uniform scaling)
• Scale Corner Radius – Scale corner radius with Live Shapes (Illustrator CS6+)
• Scale Stroke & Effects – Scale stroke width and effects proportionally
• Scale Fill Patterns – Scale fill patterns proportionally
• Scale Stroke Patterns – Scale stroke patterns proportionally

ㅤ

➐ Preview and Hide Edges

• Preview – Enable to see changes in real-time as you adjust settings. Disable for better performance with complex artwork
• Hide Edges – Deselect objects to hide bounding box and edges while the script maintains internal selection tracking

ㅤ

➑ Action Buttons

• Cancel – Close the dialog without applying changes
• ✚ (Zoom) – Fit the selection in the window for better visibility
• OK – Apply the resize operation to selected objects

ㅤ

ㅤ

Resizing to Exact Dimensions

Use this mode when you need objects to be a specific size.

ㅤ

Steps to resize to exact dimensions:

1. Select your object(s) in the document
2. Run Smart Scale
3. Select Set Exact Size in the Resize Mode panel
4. Enter the desired size value (e.g., 500 for 500px)
5. Choose the scaling side (e.g., Scale by Width)
6. Select your preferred reference point (e.g., Center)
7. Enable Maintain Proportions if you want uniform scaling
8. Enable Preview to see the result in real-time
9. Click OK to apply the transformation

This mode is ideal for creating objects that need to match specific dimensions in your design system or layout grid.

ㅤ

ㅤ

ㅤ

Increasing or Decreasing Size by Amount

Use these modes when you need to adjust object sizes by a specific increment.

ㅤ

Steps to increase size by amount:

1. Select your object(s)
2. Run Smart Scale
3. Select Increase by Amount in the Resize Mode panel
4. Enter the amount to add (e.g., 50 to add 50px)
5. Choose the scaling side (e.g., Scale by Larger Side)
6. Enable Preview to see the result
7. Click OK to apply

ㅤ

Steps to decrease size by amount:

1. Select your object(s)
2. Run Smart Scale
3. Select Decrease by Amount in the Resize Mode panel
4. Enter the amount to subtract (e.g., 20 to subtract 20px)
5. Choose the scaling side (e.g., Scale by Smaller Side)
6. Enable Preview to see the result
7. Click OK to apply

These modes are useful for making consistent adjustments across multiple objects or creating size variations in your designs.

ㅤ

ㅤ

Scaling by Percentage

Use this mode when you need to scale objects proportionally by a percentage value.

ㅤ

Steps to scale by percentage:

1. Select your object(s)
2. Run Smart Scale
3. Select Scale by Percentage in the Resize Mode panel
4. Enter the percentage value (e.g., 150 for 150% or 50 for 50%)
5. Choose your scaling preferences in the Scaling Options panel
6. Enable Preview to see the result
7. Click OK to apply

Note that 100% represents the original size, values above 100% increase the size, and values below 100% decrease the size. The scrollbar range extends to 1000% for extreme scaling needs.

ㅤ

ㅤ

Working with Reference Points

The reference point determines the anchor position for your transformation. Understanding how reference points work helps you achieve precise positioning.

ㅤ

Common reference point uses:

• Top Left – Useful when aligning objects to the top-left corner of a layout
• Top Center – Ideal for centering objects horizontally while maintaining top alignment
• Center – Perfect for scaling objects from their center point
• Bottom Center – Great for aligning objects to a baseline while centering horizontally
• Bottom Right – Useful for aligning objects to the bottom-right corner

The selected reference point remains fixed during the transformation, while the rest of the object scales relative to that point.

ㅤ

ㅤ

Understanding Geometric vs Visible Bounds

Choosing the correct measurement method is important for accurate resizing.

ㅤ

Geometric Bounds

Measures the object's mathematical bounding box excluding stroke width. Use this when:

• You need precise object dimensions
• Stroke width should not affect the measurement
• You're working with technical drawings or precise layouts

To use Geometric Bounds, ensure Use Preview Bounds is unchecked in Preferences > General.

ㅤ

Visible Bounds

Measures the object's visual bounding box including stroke width. Use this when:

• The visual appearance matters more than mathematical precision
• You want stroke width included in the measurement
• You're working with designs where the total visual size is important

To use Visible Bounds, ensure Use Preview Bounds is checked in Preferences > General and Show Bounding Box is enabled in the View menu.

ㅤ

ㅤ

ㅤ

Advanced Scaling Options

The Scaling Options panel provides fine control over how scaling affects various object properties.

ㅤ

Maintain Proportions

When enabled, objects scale uniformly maintaining their aspect ratio. When disabled, objects can be scaled non-uniformly based on the selected scaling side.

Scale Corner Radius

Available in Illustrator CS6 and later. When enabled, corner radius values in Live Shapes scale proportionally with the object. Disable this if you want to maintain fixed corner radius values.

Scale Stroke & Effects

When enabled, stroke width and effects scale proportionally with the object. Disable this if you want to maintain the original stroke width regardless of object size.

Scale Fill Patterns

When enabled, fill patterns scale proportionally with the object. Disable this if you want patterns to maintain their original scale.

Scale Stroke Patterns

When enabled, stroke patterns scale proportionally with the object. Disable this if you want stroke patterns to maintain their original scale.

ㅤ

ㅤ

Tips and Best Practices

Maximize your efficiency with these helpful tips.

Quick Value Adjustments

• Use the scrollbar for fast visual adjustments
• Type exact values in the input field for precision
• Use keyboard arrows for fine-tuned control

Batch Processing

Select multiple objects to resize them all at once with the same settings. This is perfect for creating consistent sizing across multiple elements.

Reset Values Quickly

Right-click the scrollbar to instantly reset to 0 (in Add/Subtract modes) or 100% (in Percentage mode).

Match Reference Points to Design Needs

Choose reference points that align with your design requirements. For example, use bottom-center when aligning objects to a baseline, or center when scaling icons uniformly.

Choose the Right Measurement Method

Use Geometric Bounds for precise object dimensions and Visible Bounds when stroke width matters to the overall visual size.

Persistent Settings

Your settings are automatically saved and restored the next time you run the script, saving you time on repeated tasks.

Performance with Complex Artwork

If preview is slow with complex artwork, disable Preview while making adjustments, then enable it briefly to check the result before clicking OK.

Hide Edges for Better Visibility

Enable the Hide Edges checkbox to deselect objects and hide their bounding boxes while the script maintains internal selection tracking. This provides a cleaner view of your artwork during preview.

ㅤ

ㅤ

☻ Wrap-Up

Smart Scale provides professional-grade resizing capabilities that go far beyond Illustrator's built-in transform tools. With multiple resize modes, flexible scaling options, and real-time preview, you can achieve precise control over your artwork dimensions while maintaining design consistency. The script's intuitive interface and persistent settings make it an essential tool for any Illustrator workflow requiring accurate and efficient object resizing.

ㅤㅤ