Tints and Shades Generator

Script for Adobe Illustrator

✦ Available exclusively on Patreon for Pro supporters.

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Description

Tints and Shades Generator is a powerful Adobe Illustrator script designed to streamline the color exploration process. It allows designers to instantly generate comprehensive color palettes – including tints, shades, tones, Tailwind-style scales, transparency variations, and analogous harmonies – from a single base color.

Whether you're building a design system, creating a UI color scale, or just looking for the perfect variation of a brand color, this script provides a visual and interactive way to generate and save color assets directly on your artboard and in your Swatches panel.

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Features

Multiple Palette Types: Generate Tints (white mix), Shades (black mix), Tones (gray mix), Tailwind-style scales, Transparency (opacity) steps, and Analogous harmonies.
Interactive Color Selection: Start with a selected object's color or define a new color using RGB, CMYK, or HSL sliders, Hex input, or the native color picker.
Real-Time Preview: Visualize your palettes directly on the artboard before finalizing. Miniature swatch previews also update live inside the dialog.
Customizable Layout: Control the number of swatches (2–20), swatch size, and spacing.
Auto-Labeling: Automatically adds value/percentage labels and Hex codes below each swatch.
Background Fill: Optionally place a colored background rectangle behind each palette row, with a custom-picked background color.
Swatches Panel Integration: Option to add generated colors (Tints, Shades, Tones, Tailwind, Analogous) to your document's Swatches panel as Global Process colors.
Smart Inputs: Arrow keys (Up/Down) in all input fields for fine-tuning values. Hold Shift for ×10 increments; hold Option/Alt for 0.1 increments (where applicable).

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Installation

1. Download the Tints and Shades Generator.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 > Tints and Shades Generator

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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Start with a Color (Optional)

If an object with a fill is selected, the script uses that fill color as the starting base color. If nothing suitable is selected, it starts from the saved color from the previous run, or the default orange on first launch.

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Run the Script

Go to File > Scripts > Tints and Shades Generator.
The script dialog window will appear with multiple options:

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➊ Adjust the Base Color

Use the left side of the dialog to define the base color:

Color swatch: Click the swatch to open the Illustrator or system color picker.
Hex field: Type a Hex value directly.
RGB / CMYK / HSL tabs: Adjust channels with sliders and numeric inputs. All color models stay synchronized.
Arrow key edits: Use Up and Down inside numeric fields for precise stepping.

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➋ Select Palette Types

The right side of the dialog contains one panel per palette type. Enable the palettes you want to generate; each panel includes a live miniature preview row.

Shades: Darker variations mixed with black.
Tints: Lighter variations mixed with white.
Tones: Desaturated variations mixed with gray.
Tailwind: A UI-style lightness scale inspired by Tailwind color ramps.
Transparency: Opacity steps of the base color.
Analogous: Neighboring hues around the base color.
Complementary: A blend progression between the base color and its complement.

For all palettes except Transparency, you can enable Add to swatches to export the generated colors to the Swatches panel when you click OK.

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➌ Configure Layout

In Layout Options, configure how the generated art should look:

Swatch Count: Number of steps per palette, from 2 to 20.
Swatch Size: Width and height of each swatch, in points.
Spacing: Horizontal gap between swatches, in points.
Add Color Text Labels: Adds labels and Hex values below each swatch. When enabled, you can also set the text color.
Add Background Fill: Adds a background rectangle behind each palette row. When enabled, you can set the background color.
Create Gradients: Adds a gradient strip above each palette row using the palette colors as stops.

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➍ Preview and Generate

Preview: When enabled, the script draws a temporary preview on a temporary artboard and updates it as settings change.
Cancel: Closes the dialog and removes the temporary preview without generating anything permanent.
OK: Saves the current settings, creates a new non-overlapping artboard, generates the selected palettes as grouped artwork, optionally exports swatches and gradients, and fits the view to the result.

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☻ Wrap Up

The Tints and Shades Generator aims to streamline your color exploration workflow directly within Adobe Illustrator. We hope this script significantly speeds up your design process and inspires new palette combinations for your projects. If you have any feedback or encounter issues, please feel free to reach out!

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#Color

Tints and Shades Generator

Version: 1.0.2

Updated: May 2, 2026

Download Tints and Shades Generator

1.0.0 – Initial release.
1.0.1 – Added a full support for all Illustrator color types including Color Swatches menu in the native color picker.
1.0.2 – Fixed an issue with native Color PickeronWindows where preview palette swatches (Tints, Shades, Tones, Tailwind, Analogous, Complementary) were not updating after picking a color from the native color picker, even though the main swatch and Transparency panel were updating correctly.
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Tested on MacOS:
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- Adobe Illustrator 2023 (27.0)
- Adobe Illustrator 2024 (28.1)
- Adobe Illustrator 2025 (29.8)
- Adobe Illustrator 2026 (30.0)
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 Tints and Shades Generator.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 Tints and Shades Generator.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 Tints and Shades Generator script to run it.
5. The Tints and Shades Generator 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 Tints and Shades Generator.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).
ㅤ
🅱 Installing the Script
1. Copy the Script File: Copy the Tints and Shades Generator.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 Tints and Shades Generator script to run it.
5. The Tints and Shades Generator 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.

Got questions?

Need help or have an idea to share? We’d love to hear from you! Whether you have questions, found a bug, have a feature request, or just want to share your feedback, reach out to us—we’re here for you!

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