Designers often need to resize vector paths in absolute units rather than percentages. Adobe Illustrator’s default scaling tools work in percentages, which can be limiting when you want to add or subtract a specific number of pixels, millimeters, or points. This custom script solves that problem by introducing a pixel‑based resizing workflow.
What the Script Does
The script adds a dialog box that lets you resize selected paths or objects by entering numeric values instead of percentages. Key features include:
- Unit awareness: Automatically adapts to the document’s ruler units (Pixels, Points, Inches, mm, cm, Picas).
- Direct input: Enter positive values to enlarge or negative values to shrink.
- Uniform scaling option: Apply the same horizontal value to both axes.
- Reference point control: Choose from nine anchor points (Top‑Left, Center, Bottom‑Right, etc.) to define how the object resizes.
- Batch processing: Works on multiple selected objects at once.
Why It’s Useful
For motion designers and illustrators, this script provides precision and speed:
- Pixel‑perfect control: Resize by exact pixel values, ideal for UI design, iconography, and motion graphics assets.
- Consistent layouts: Maintain uniform spacing and proportions across multiple objects.
- Flexible units: Whether you’re working in inches for print or pixels for digital, the script adapts.
- Anchor‑based resizing: Control how objects expand or contract relative to a chosen reference point.
How to Use It
- Open a document in Adobe Illustrator.
- Select one or more paths or objects.
- Run the script from the File → Scripts → Other Script… menu.
- In the dialog box:
- Enter horizontal and vertical resize values.
- Check Uniform if you want both axes to use the same value.
- Choose a reference point (e.g., Center, Top‑Left).
- Click OK to apply changes.
The script will resize all selected objects by the specified pixel (or unit) values, maintaining clean and predictable results.
Practical Applications
- Motion graphics assets: Resize vector elements for animation pipelines without losing precision.
- UI/UX design: Adjust icons or buttons by exact pixel increments.
- Print layouts: Scale objects by millimeters or inches for accurate print dimensions.
- Batch adjustments: Quickly resize multiple paths in one step.
JavaScript
Download “Batch Resize Paths by Pixel – Illustrator Script” Batch_Resize_Paths_By_Pixels_Illustrator_Script.zip – Downloaded 0 times – 2.04 KB
// Resize Paths by Pixels - Adobe Illustrator Script
// Resize selected paths by adding/subtracting pixel values instead of percentages
(function() {
// Check if there's an active document
if (app.documents.length === 0) {
alert("Please open a document first.");
return;
}
var doc = app.activeDocument;
var sel = doc.selection;
// Check if there are selected objects
if (sel.length === 0) {
alert("Please select at least one path or object.");
return;
}
// Get document ruler units
var units = doc.rulerUnits;
var unitName = getUnitName(units);
// Create dialog
var dialog = new Window("dialog", "Resize Paths by " + unitName);
dialog.alignChildren = "fill";
// Info panel
var infoGroup = dialog.add("panel", undefined, "Resize Options");
infoGroup.alignChildren = "left";
infoGroup.add("statictext", undefined, "Enter values to increase (+) or decrease (-) size:");
infoGroup.add("statictext", undefined, "Selected objects: " + sel.length);
// Input group for horizontal
var hGroup = dialog.add("group");
hGroup.add("statictext", undefined, "Horizontal (" + unitName + "):");
var hInput = hGroup.add("edittext", undefined, "0");
hInput.characters = 10;
// Input group for vertical
var vGroup = dialog.add("group");
vGroup.add("statictext", undefined, "Vertical (" + unitName + "):");
var vInput = vGroup.add("edittext", undefined, "0");
vInput.characters = 10;
// Checkbox for uniform scaling
var uniformCheck = dialog.add("checkbox", undefined, "Uniform (use horizontal value for both)");
uniformCheck.value = false;
// Reference point group
var refGroup = dialog.add("panel", undefined, "Reference Point");
refGroup.orientation = "row";
refGroup.alignChildren = "center";
var refPoints = refGroup.add("group");
refPoints.orientation = "column";
refPoints.alignChildren = "center";
var refRow1 = refPoints.add("group");
var refRow2 = refPoints.add("group");
var refRow3 = refPoints.add("group");
var refButtons = [];
refButtons.push(refRow1.add("radiobutton", undefined, "TL"));
refButtons.push(refRow1.add("radiobutton", undefined, "TC"));
refButtons.push(refRow1.add("radiobutton", undefined, "TR"));
refButtons.push(refRow2.add("radiobutton", undefined, "ML"));
refButtons.push(refRow2.add("radiobutton", undefined, "MC"));
refButtons.push(refRow2.add("radiobutton", undefined, "MR"));
refButtons.push(refRow3.add("radiobutton", undefined, "BL"));
refButtons.push(refRow3.add("radiobutton", undefined, "BC"));
refButtons.push(refRow3.add("radiobutton", undefined, "BR"));
refButtons[4].value = true; // Default to center
// Button group
var buttonGroup = dialog.add("group");
buttonGroup.alignment = "center";
var okButton = buttonGroup.add("button", undefined, "OK", {name: "ok"});
var cancelButton = buttonGroup.add("button", undefined, "Cancel", {name: "cancel"});
// Show dialog
if (dialog.show() == 1) {
var hValue = parseFloat(hInput.text) || 0;
var vValue = uniformCheck.value ? hValue : (parseFloat(vInput.text) || 0);
// Get selected reference point
var refPoint = getSelectedRefPoint(refButtons);
// Convert values to points (Illustrator's internal unit)
var hPoints = convertToPoints(hValue, units);
var vPoints = convertToPoints(vValue, units);
// Process each selected object
app.coordinateSystem = CoordinateSystem.ARTBOARDCOORDINATESYSTEM;
for (var i = 0; i < sel.length; i++) {
resizeObject(sel[i], hPoints, vPoints, refPoint);
}
alert("Resized " + sel.length + " object(s) successfully!");
}
// Function to get unit name
function getUnitName(units) {
switch(units) {
case RulerUnits.Pixels: return "Pixels";
case RulerUnits.Points: return "Points";
case RulerUnits.Inches: return "Inches";
case RulerUnits.Millimeters: return "mm";
case RulerUnits.Centimeters: return "cm";
case RulerUnits.Picas: return "Picas";
default: return "Pixels";
}
}
// Function to convert to points
function convertToPoints(value, units) {
switch(units) {
case RulerUnits.Pixels: return value * 0.75; // 1 pixel = 0.75 points
case RulerUnits.Points: return value;
case RulerUnits.Inches: return value * 72;
case RulerUnits.Millimeters: return value * 2.83464567;
case RulerUnits.Centimeters: return value * 28.3464567;
case RulerUnits.Picas: return value * 12;
default: return value * 0.75; // Default to pixels
}
}
// Function to get selected reference point
function getSelectedRefPoint(buttons) {
var points = [
[0, 0], // TL
[0.5, 0], // TC
[1, 0], // TR
[0, 0.5], // ML
[0.5, 0.5], // MC (center)
[1, 0.5], // MR
[0, 1], // BL
[0.5, 1], // BC
[1, 1] // BR
];
for (var i = 0; i < buttons.length; i++) {
if (buttons[i].value) {
return points[i];
}
}
return points[4]; // Default to center
}
// Function to resize object
function resizeObject(obj, hPoints, vPoints, refPoint) {
try {
var bounds = obj.geometricBounds; // [left, top, right, bottom]
var currentWidth = bounds[2] - bounds[0];
var currentHeight = bounds[1] - bounds[3];
// Calculate new dimensions
var newWidth = currentWidth + hPoints;
var newHeight = currentHeight + vPoints;
// Prevent negative or zero dimensions
if (newWidth <= 0 || newHeight <= 0) {
return;
}
// Calculate scale factors
var scaleH = (newWidth / currentWidth) * 100;
var scaleV = (newHeight / currentHeight) * 100;
// Calculate reference point position
var refX = bounds[0] + (currentWidth * refPoint[0]);
var refY = bounds[1] - (currentHeight * refPoint[1]);
// Resize the object
obj.resize(scaleH, scaleV, true, true, true, true, scaleH,
Transformation.DOCUMENTCOORDINATESYSTEM, refX, refY);
} catch(e) {
// Skip objects that can't be resized
}
}
})();
