Scriptographer is a plugin for Adobe Illustrator which makes it possible to expand the functions of this vector editor. Some scripts may initially appear to be toy-like, but I recommend taking a closer look at them as they might help you to create your own unique style.

Let’s take a look at, in my opinion, the most interesting and useful ones.

You can install Scriptographer by clicking on the following link http://scriptographer.org/download/. Scriptographer is made freely available and versions are provided for Illustrator CS through CS5 on both Windows and Mac OS.

After downloading, you can read the installation instructions http://scriptographer.org/tutorials/getting-started/installation-instructions/.

General Scripts (scripts that generate or modify graphic objects)

Notes: Open the Scriptographer panel (Window > Scriptographer > Show Main Palette), choose the object you have to transform, choose the necessary script in the Scripts list, then click on the Execute Script button (Cmd / Ctrl + E).

To stop the script, click on the Stop Running Scripts button (Cmd / Ctrl +.).

Replace with symbol

This script replaces all the selected items with the symbol selected in the Symbols panel.

Roulettes

This script allows us to generate various types of mathematical curves such as Epicycloid, Epitrochoid, Hypocycloid, Hypotrochoid.

FadenGraydi

The script takes the selected objects and blows them up with a detonation. The detonation starts at the document’s zero point and can be adjusted by moving that point or the selected vectors around.

SpiderWeb

This script draws lines from points at the set distance around a shape to random points on the same path. The end result is a bit like a spider web. Works on compound paths and groups of shapes like outlined text.

Randomdistribute

The script that randomly distributes the selected objects within the document.

Font Rhythm

The script allows you to do different effects with letters, words or selected text.

Interactive Tools (mouse controlled drawing tools)

Notes: after running the script, take the appropriate tool on the Tool Bar, and create vector objects.

Triangular Tool

This tool creates interconnected triangular vector objects. The resulting grid is colored using the four color theorem.

Wallbazer

The script draws paths from the mouse pointer to the location which is related to the document’s origin, using the distance from that origin to the current pointer position. It can be used either as a drawing tool or it can be applied to an existing object.

Voronoi Tool

This tool creates a Voronoi diagram, which may consist of blob-like objects.

Sketchy Structures Tool

The tool draws whimsical images reminiscent of complex structural systems.

Cube / Cylinder

These two scripts scatter primitive solids by dragging. Cube.js for cubes and cylinder.js for cylinders.

Text Pencil

The tool lets you draw with text. It allows the use of non monospaced fonts, draw with words, perfect spacing (turn it off for less perfect spacing), select the position in the text with a popup list.

Fiddlehead

The tool creates fiddlehead-like shapes. Several parameters can be adjusted with the option dialog box.

Growth

Grow is a drawing tool that acts like a visual echo by taking the drawn line and adding it to itself with a decay in size.

Randomizer

The script randomly places curve handles around the drawing cursor.

Conclusion

Here I presented a collection of scripts that I liked and know how to apply them in practice. Some of my experiments are shown in the figures below.

You can find all the scripts of the Scriptographer plugin here http://scriptographer.org/scripts/. You can also learn how to create scripts yourself by clicking on the following link http://scriptographer.org/tutorials/

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About the author

My name is Iaroslav Lazunov, I am a graphic designer from Zhytomyr, Ukraine. I am glad that I finally found the job in my life that I can share my knowledge and experiments with you in my tutorials.

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