Grid Duplicator and Color Modifier – After Effects Script

This Adobe Illustrator script allows you to duplicate selected objects in a grid layout while providing options to assign custom duplicate counts and fill colors for each object. The script also offers flexible grid configuration, enabling you to either set manual grid dimensions (rows and columns with a specified margin) or let Illustrator automatically determine margins and positioning within a new artboard.

Key Features: • Checks for a valid selection and prompts if no objects are selected. • Displays a dynamic dialog window with input fields for: – Specifying the number of duplicates for each selected object. – Choosing a fill color for each object via a color picker. – Automatically calculating and displaying the total number of duplicates. • Offers grid layout settings with two modes: – Automatic Margin Mode: Calculate grid parameters based on total available width/height. – Manual Mode: Let the user set specific rows, columns, and margins. • Duplicates the selected objects, applies the chosen fill colors recursively to each object’s path items, and arranges them in a grid. • Groups all duplicates together and repositions them centrally, either on the active artboard or on a newly created artboard if using auto-margin.

JavaScript

// Get the number of selected objects
var doc = app.activeDocument;
var selection = doc.selection;
var numSelected = selection.length;

// Check if any objects are selected
if (numSelected == 0) {
    alert("Please select at least one object before running the script.");
} else {
    var dialog = new Window("dialog", "Grid Duplicator");

    // Helper function to create label with specific color
    function createLabel(parent, text) {
        var label = parent.add("statictext", undefined, text);
        label.graphics.foregroundColor = label.graphics.newPen(
            label.graphics.PenType.SOLID_COLOR, [0.6, 0.7, 0.8], 1
        );
        return label;
    }

    // Arrays to hold amount inputs and color pickers
    var amountInputs = [];
    var colorValues = []; // To store selected colors
    var colorButtons = [];
    var colorSwatches = []; // To store color swatch panels

    // Loop to create input fields based on number of selected objects
    for (var i = 0; i < numSelected; i++) {
        // Object group with specific spacing
        var objGroup = dialog.add("group");
        objGroup.spacing = 10;

        // Amount input
        createLabel(objGroup, "Object " + (i + 1) + " Amount:");
        var objAmount = objGroup.add("edittext", undefined, "0");
        objAmount.characters = 5;
        amountInputs.push(objAmount);

        // Color swatch panel
        var colorSwatch = objGroup.add("panel", [0, 0, 20, 20]);
        colorSwatch.margins = 0;
        colorSwatch.graphics.backgroundColor = colorSwatch.graphics.newBrush(colorSwatch.graphics.BrushType.SOLID_COLOR, [0, 0, 0, 1]);
        colorSwatches.push(colorSwatch); // Store the color swatch panel for updating

        // Color picker button
        var colorButton = objGroup.add("button", undefined, "Select Color");
        colorButtons.push(colorButton);

        // Placeholder for selected color (default black)
        colorValues.push([0, 0, 0]);

        // Add event handler for color picker
        (function (index) {
            colorButton.onClick = function () {
                var pickedColor = $.colorPicker();
                if (pickedColor !== -1) {
                    // Extract RGB values from pickedColor (hexadecimal)
                    var r = (pickedColor >> 16) & 0xFF;
                    var g = (pickedColor >> 8) & 0xFF;
                    var b = pickedColor & 0xFF;

                    // Normalize RGB values to 0-1 range
                    var colorArray = [r / 255, g / 255, b / 255];
                    colorValues[index] = colorArray;

                    // Change color swatch background to selected color
                    var swatch = colorSwatches[index];
                    swatch.graphics.backgroundColor = swatch.graphics.newBrush(swatch.graphics.BrushType.SOLID_COLOR, colorArray);
                }
            };
        })(i);

        // Add some vertical spacing
        dialog.add("group").preferredSize.height = 5;
    }

    // Total amount text
    var totalGroup = dialog.add("group");
    var totalInfo = createLabel(totalGroup, "Total Amount: 0");
    totalInfo.characters = 20; // Ensure enough space for the text

    // Add some vertical spacing
    dialog.add("group").preferredSize.height = 10;

    // Function to calculate total that maintains complete numbers
    function calculateTotal() {
        var total = 0;
        for (var i = 0; i < amountInputs.length; i++) {
            var val = amountInputs[i].text;
            var num = parseInt(val, 10) || 0;
            total += num;
        }
        // Update display
        totalInfo.text = "Total Amount: " + total;
    }

    // Add event handlers to all amount input fields
    for (var i = 0; i < amountInputs.length; i++) {
        amountInputs[i].onChanging = calculateTotal;
    }

    // Automatic margin checkbox group
    var autoMarginGroup = dialog.add("group");
    var autoMargin = autoMarginGroup.add("checkbox", undefined, "Automatic Margin");
    autoMargin.value = false;

    // Function to update the enabled state of margin and total dimensions inputs
    function updateMarginInputState() {
        var isAuto = autoMargin.value;
        marginInput.enabled = !isAuto;
        totalWidthGroup.visible = isAuto;
        totalHeightGroup.visible = isAuto;
        // Show/hide Rows and Columns when Automatic Margin is disabled
        rowsGroup.visible = !isAuto;
        colsGroup.visible = !isAuto;
    }

    // Add event handler for autoMargin checkbox
    autoMargin.onClick = updateMarginInputState;

    // Add some vertical spacing
    dialog.add("group").preferredSize.height = 10;

    // Total dimensions group (initially hidden if autoMargin is disabled)
    var dimensionsGroup = dialog.add("group");
    dimensionsGroup.spacing = 10;

    var totalWidthGroup = dimensionsGroup.add("group");
    createLabel(totalWidthGroup, "Total Width:");
    var totalWidth = totalWidthGroup.add("edittext", undefined, "500");
    totalWidth.characters = 5;

    var totalHeightGroup = dimensionsGroup.add("group");
    createLabel(totalHeightGroup, "Total Height:");
    var totalHeight = totalHeightGroup.add("edittext", undefined, "500");
    totalHeight.characters = 5;

    // Set visibility based on initial autoMargin value
    totalWidthGroup.visible = autoMargin.value;
    totalHeightGroup.visible = autoMargin.value;

    // Rows and Columns inputs (visible when Automatic Margin is disabled)
    var gridGroup = dialog.add("group");
    gridGroup.spacing = 10;

    var rowsGroup = gridGroup.add("group");
    createLabel(rowsGroup, "Rows:");
    var rowsInput = rowsGroup.add("edittext", undefined, "1");
    rowsInput.characters = 3;

    var colsGroup = gridGroup.add("group");
    createLabel(colsGroup, "Columns:");
    var colsInput = colsGroup.add("edittext", undefined, "1");
    colsInput.characters = 3;

    // Set visibility based on initial autoMargin value
    rowsGroup.visible = !autoMargin.value;
    colsGroup.visible = !autoMargin.value;

    // Add some vertical spacing
    dialog.add("group").preferredSize.height = 10;

    // Margin group
    var marginGroup = dialog.add("group");
    marginGroup.spacing = 10;
    createLabel(marginGroup, "Margin:");
    var marginInput = marginGroup.add("edittext", undefined, "10");
    marginInput.characters = 5;

    // Call the function initially to set the correct state
    updateMarginInputState();

    // Add some vertical spacing
    dialog.add("group").preferredSize.height = 15;

    // Button group
    var buttonGroup = dialog.add("group");
    buttonGroup.alignment = "center";
    buttonGroup.spacing = 10;
    var okButton = buttonGroup.add("button", undefined, "OK");
    var cancelButton = buttonGroup.add("button", undefined, "Cancel");

    // Initial calculation
    calculateTotal();

    // Function to apply fill color recursively to all path items
    function applyFillColor(item, colorArray) {
        if (item.typename === "GroupItem") {
            for (var i = 0; i < item.pageItems.length; i++) {
                applyFillColor(item.pageItems[i], colorArray);
            }
        } else if (item.typename === "CompoundPathItem") {
            applyFillColor(item.pathItems[0], colorArray);
        } else if (item.typename === "PathItem") {
            if (item.filled) {
                item.fillColor = new RGBColor();
                item.fillColor.red = colorArray[0] * 255;
                item.fillColor.green = colorArray[1] * 255;
                item.fillColor.blue = colorArray[2] * 255;
            }
        }
    }

    // OK button handler
    okButton.onClick = function () {
        // Get the amounts
        var amounts = [];
        var totalAmount = 0;
        for (var i = 0; i < amountInputs.length; i++) {
            amounts[i] = parseInt(amountInputs[i].text, 10) || 0;
            totalAmount += amounts[i];
        }

        // Check if totalAmount is greater than 0
        if (totalAmount == 0) {
            alert("Please enter amounts greater than zero.");
            return;
        }

        // Get total width and height if autoMargin is enabled
        var totalW = 0;
        var totalH = 0;
        if (autoMargin.value) {
            totalW = parseFloat(totalWidth.text) || 500;
            totalH = parseFloat(totalHeight.text) || 500;
        }

        // Get margin
        var margin = parseFloat(marginInput.text) || 0;

        // Get rows and columns if autoMargin is disabled
        var userRows = parseInt(rowsInput.text, 10) || 1;
        var userCols = parseInt(colsInput.text, 10) || 1;

        // Create a layer for the duplicates
        var dupLayer = doc.layers.add();
        dupLayer.name = "Duplicated Objects";

        // Variables to hold object dimensions and duplicates
        var objDims = [];

        // Copy the selection to avoid issues with changing selection
        var selectedObjects = [];
        for (var i = 0; i < selection.length; i++) {
            selectedObjects.push(selection[i]);
        }

        // Collect object dimensions and find max dimensions
        var maxObjWidth = 0;
        var maxObjHeight = 0;
        for (var i = 0; i < selectedObjects.length; i++) {
            var obj = selectedObjects[i];
            var bounds = obj.visibleBounds; // [x1, y1, x2, y2]
            var objWidth = bounds[2] - bounds[0];
            var objHeight = bounds[1] - bounds[3]; // Note: y values decrease as you go up
            objDims.push({ width: objWidth, height: objHeight });
            if (objWidth > maxObjWidth) maxObjWidth = objWidth;
            if (objHeight > maxObjHeight) maxObjHeight = objHeight;
        }

        // Determine the margins and grid size
        var numCols = 0;
        var numRows = 0;
        if (autoMargin.value) {
            // Calculate number of columns based on total width
            numCols = Math.floor(totalW / (maxObjWidth + margin));
            if (numCols < 1) numCols = 1;

            // Calculate number of rows based on total amount and numCols
            numRows = Math.ceil(totalAmount / numCols);
        } else {
            numCols = userCols;
            numRows = userRows;
        }

        // Initialize col and row counters
        var col = 0;
        var row = 0;

        // Starting positions
        var startX = 0;
        var startY = 0;

        // Array to hold duplicates for grouping
        var duplicates = [];

        // Duplicate and arrange objects
        for (var i = 0; i < selectedObjects.length; i++) {
            var obj = selectedObjects[i];
            var amount = amounts[i];
            if (amount == 0) continue;

            var objWidth = objDims[i].width;
            var objHeight = objDims[i].height;

            for (var j = 0; j < amount; j++) {
                var dup = obj.duplicate(dupLayer, ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND);

                // Apply fill color recursively
                applyFillColor(dup, colorValues[i]);

                // Calculate position using max dimensions for consistent grid spacing
                var posX = startX + col * (maxObjWidth + margin);
                var posY = startY - row * (maxObjHeight + margin);

                // Adjust position based on object's own dimensions to center it in the grid cell
                var offsetX = (maxObjWidth - objWidth) / 2;
                var offsetY = (maxObjHeight - objHeight) / 2;

                // Move the duplicate to the calculated position
                dup.left = posX + offsetX;
                dup.top = posY - offsetY;

                // Add duplicate to array for grouping
                duplicates.push(dup);

                // Update position counters
                col++;
                if (col >= numCols) {
                    col = 0;
                    row++;
                }
            }
        }

        // Group all duplicates
        var group = dupLayer.groupItems.add();
        for (var i = 0; i < duplicates.length; i++) {
            duplicates[i].move(group, ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND);
        }

        // Get the group's bounds
        group.hasSelectedArtwork = true; // Ensure group bounds are updated
        var groupBounds = group.visibleBounds; // [x1, y1, x2, y2]
        var groupLeft = groupBounds[0];
        var groupTop = groupBounds[1];
        var groupRight = groupBounds[2];
        var groupBottom = groupBounds[3];

        var groupWidth = groupRight - groupLeft;
        var groupHeight = groupTop - groupBottom;

        // Calculate center of the document or new artboard
        var centerX, centerY;
        if (autoMargin.value) {
            // Create a new artboard centered on the group
            var newArtboardRect = [
                groupLeft,
                groupTop + margin, // Adjust for margin if necessary
                groupLeft + totalW,
                groupTop - totalH - margin // Adjust for margin if necessary
            ];
            var newArtboard = doc.artboards.add(newArtboardRect);
            doc.artboards.setActiveArtboardIndex(doc.artboards.length - 1);

            centerX = groupLeft + totalW / 2;
            centerY = groupTop - totalH / 2;
        } else {
            // Center on the active artboard
            var artboard = doc.artboards[doc.artboards.getActiveArtboardIndex()];
            var artboardRect = artboard.artboardRect; // [x1, y1, x2, y2]
            var artboardLeft = artboardRect[0];
            var artboardTop = artboardRect[1];
            var artboardRight = artboardRect[2];
            var artboardBottom = artboardRect[3];

            var artboardWidth = artboardRight - artboardLeft;
            var artboardHeight = artboardTop - artboardBottom;

            centerX = artboardLeft + artboardWidth / 2;
            centerY = artboardTop - artboardHeight / 2;
        }

        var groupCenterX = groupLeft + groupWidth / 2;
        var groupCenterY = groupTop - groupHeight / 2;

        // Calculate the difference
        var deltaX = centerX - groupCenterX;
        var deltaY = centerY - groupCenterY;

        // Move the group to the center
        group.translate(deltaX, deltaY);

        // Close the dialog
        dialog.close();
    };

    // Cancel button handler
    cancelButton.onClick = function () {
        dialog.close();
    };

    // Show the dialog
    dialog.show();
}

Guidelines:

Prerequisites:
- Open an Adobe Illustrator document with one or more objects selected.
- Ensure your active document is ready since the script operates on the current selection.
Running the Script:
- Execute the script through File > Scripts, or by using your preferred scripting environment.
- If no objects are selected, the script will alert you to make a selection first.
Configuring Duplicate Settings:
- Once the script runs, a dialog titled “Grid Duplicator” appears.
- For each selected object, you can: • Enter the number of duplicates you wish to create. • Click the “Select Color” button next to each object to choose a fill color. The corresponding color swatch panel will update to reflect your choice.
- As you adjust the duplicate counts, a “Total Amount” display updates in real time, showing the sum of duplicates to be produced.
Setting Grid Layout Options:
- Choose whether you wish to use “Automatic Margin” by checking the corresponding checkbox: • If enabled:
  - Input the total desired width and height for the grid. The script calculates the required number of rows and columns based on the maximum dimensions of your selected objects and the margin value. • If disabled:
  - Manually specify the number of rows and columns in which you want to distribute the duplicates.
- Enter the desired margin value, which controls spacing between objects in the grid.
Finalizing the Duplication Process:
- Click “OK” to generate the duplicates: • The script creates a new layer titled “Duplicated Objects” where all duplicates are placed. • It duplicates each object as per the specified count, applies the selected fill colors, and arranges them in a grid based on your configuration. • After duplication, the script groups all the duplicates and centers the group either on the active artboard or on a new artboard if auto-margin was enabled.
- If you prefer to cancel the operation, click the “Cancel” button, and no changes will be made.

Grid Duplicator and Color Modifier – After Effects Script

Guidelines:

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