Smart Swatch Randomizer

Script for Adobe Illustrator

✦ Available exclusively on Patreon for Pro supporters.

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Description

Smart Swatch Randomizer is an Adobe Illustrator script that intelligently applies random colors from your document's swatches to selected objects. This script offers advanced features like grouping objects by their original color, filtering swatches by name or group, and real-time preview with live randomization.

Whether you're working with complex illustrations or simple shapes, this tool streamlines the process of applying and experimenting with color variations.

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Key Features

Real-time Preview: See color changes instantly as you adjust settings
Group by Color: Objects with the same original color receive the same new color, maintaining visual relationships
Swatch Filtering: Search and filter swatches by name for quick selection
Group Selection: Select all swatches from the same swatch group with one click
Selective Application: Choose to apply colors to fills, strokes, or both
Live Randomization: Shuffle colors with a single click while keeping your settings
Smart Object Support: Works with paths, compound paths, groups, and text frames
Hide Edges: Toggle selection edges for a cleaner preview

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Installation

1. Download the Smart Swatch Randomizer.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. Alternatively, run it directly via File > Scripts > Other Script... and browse to the file location; or just drag and drop the Smart Swatch Randomizer.jsx file onto your Illustrator document window.

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Using the Script

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Prepare Your Document

Before running the script, ensure you have:

An open Illustrator document
At least multiple swatches are saved in your Swatches panel
One or more objects selected on your artboard

Launch the Script

Run the script via File > Scripts > Smart Swatch Randomizer

The dialog window will open, displaying all available options and swatches from your document:

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➊ Configure Options

Apply to:

Fills: Check to randomize fill colors
Strokes: Check to randomize stroke colors
Select at least one option (both can be enabled simultaneously)

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Group by Color:

When enabled: Objects with identical original colors will receive the same new color
When disabled: Each object gets a completely random color
Useful for maintaining color relationships in complex artwork

➋ Select Swatches

The Swatches panel displays all available swatches in a two-column list:

Left column: Swatch group name (if applicable)
Right column: Swatch name

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Search Swatches:

Type in the search bar to filter swatches by name
Click the ✖ button to clear the search

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Selection Tools:

Select All: Select all visible swatches in the list
Deselect All: Clear all selections
Invert Selection: Flip the current selection state
Select Group: Select all swatches from the same group as currently selected swatches

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Tip: Use Ctrl/Cmd-click to select multiple individual swatches, or Shift-click to select a range.

➌ Preview and Randomize

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Preview:

Enabled by default to show real-time color changes
Uncheck to disable live preview (colors will apply when you click OK)
When enabled, colors update automatically as you change settings

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Hide Edges:

Check to hide selection edges for a cleaner preview
Useful when evaluating color combinations without visual distractions

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Randomize Button:

Click to shuffle the random seed and generate a new color distribution
Only available when Preview is enabled
Keeps your current settings while changing which colors are assigned

➍ Apply or Cancel

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OK Button:

Applies the current color configuration and closes the dialog
If Preview is disabled, colors are applied at this moment
If Preview is enabled, the current preview becomes permanent

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Cancel Button:

Restores all objects to their original colors
Closes the dialog without making changes

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Zoom Button (✚):

Fits the selected objects in the window for better viewing
Helpful when working with large or small selections

➎ Tips and Tricks

Pre-select swatches: Select swatches in your Swatches panel before running the script—they'll be pre-selected in the dialog
Swatch groups: Organize swatches into groups for easier selection using the "Select Group" feature
Naming conventions: Use consistent naming (e.g., "Brand/Primary", "Brand/Secondary") to leverage the group detection feature
Quick iterations: Keep Preview enabled and use the Randomize button to quickly explore different color combinations
Complex artwork: Enable "Group by Color" when working with illustrations that have intentional color relationships
Performance: For very large selections, consider disabling Preview until you've finalized your swatch selection

☻ Wrap-up

Smart Swatch Randomizer is an Adobe Illustrator script that intelligently applies random colors from your document's swatches to selected objects with advanced control features.

It offers real-time preview, the ability to group objects by their original color to maintain visual relationships, swatch filtering by name or group, and live randomization – making it perfect for quickly exploring color variations and experimenting with different color schemes in your artwork.

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Smart Swatch Randomizer

Version: 1.0.5

Updated: February 8, 2026

Download Smart Swatch Randomizer

1.0.0 – Initial release.
1.0.1 – The dialog is now fully resizable: users can drag the window edges or corners, and all content will adapt dynamically.
1.0.2 – Improved the "Hide Edges" checkbox with a cleaner implementation.
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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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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 Smart Swatch Randomizer.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 Smart Swatch Randomizer.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 Smart Swatch Randomizer script to run it.
5. The Smart Swatch Randomizer 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.

🅰 Locating the Scripts Folder
To install a Smart Swatch Randomizer.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 Smart Swatch Randomizer.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.
ㅤ
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 Smart Swatch Randomizer script to run it.
5. The Smart Swatch Randomizer 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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