Batch Script to change specific CMYK Values to a Swatch after Converting File to CMYK

[Caesar5FC6]

Hello everyone!

I am currently in the process of trying to create some form of Actions Batch or even a Script Batch where a specific color is seen and then converted to a swatch in my swatch library.

For instance, after converting the file to CMYK from RGB, the new CMYK values are C: 38.66, M: 70.73, Y: 90.32, K: 42.97

After converting the file like this, how would I then create a script or action batch that would basically determine ~if these values are shown, convert to this specific swatch or swatch CMYK values~.

Currently I have my Actions set up as such:

This script or action batch would basically work on thousands of individual art files. I would be able to save these files in a temp folder to at least always double-check that the script or action batch is working as intended. Any help is appreciated!

[Ton Frederiks]

I am afraid we miss a part of your question: "if these values are shown, convert to this specific swatch or swatch CMYK values~." what specific values?

[Caesar5FC6]

Hello Ton!

Thank you for your response. The specific values would be the saved swatches on my machine, for example for the CMYK value given above (C: 38.66, M: 70.73, Y: 90.32, K: 42.97 brown) would be converted to a saved swatch in Illustrator of C: 38.86, M: 73.78, Y: 95.7, K: 42.48

Hopefully I understood your question!

[Ton Frederiks]

Would Select All and  clicking the folder icon in the Swatches panel or choose Add Selected Colors from the Swatches panel menu do what you want?

[m1b]

Hi @Caesar5FC6, I've put together a script (includes great function posted by @Charu Rajput) that might do what you need. Can you see how to configure it? See line 14 for a couple of example "modification objects". You can change them, and add more if you like. I hope it is easy for you to adjust to you specific needs, but I might have misunderstood.

- Mark

EDIT: have updated script  better to handle existing swatches in document.

/*

    by m1b
    from https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/batch-script-to-change-specific-cmyk-values-to-a-swatch-after-converting-file-to-cmyk/m-p/12607928

    update 2021-12-22:
    if a modification.changeTo has a "name" property,
    and a swatch with that name exists, then the
    color from that swatch will be applied
    (see example modification 1)

    I couldn't find a way to merge swatches so the script
    just makes a duplicate swatch which you can manually
    merge later if you want (the color breakdown is correct
    so for a process job it won't matter)
*/

// 1. add all colors as swatches
addUsedColors();

// 2. convert to cmyk
app.executeMenuCommand('doc-color-cmyk');

// 3. modify specific colors
modifySwatches(

    // the document
    app.activeDocument,
    [
        // example modification 1:
        // (don't need changeTo breakdown because swatch exists in document)
        {
            findWhat: { C: 38.66, M: 70.73, Y: 90.32, K: 42.97, tolerance: 2.0 },
            changeTo: { name: 'My Existing Swatch' }
        },
        // example modification 2:
        // swatch doesn't exist in document, so makes new swatch
        {
            findWhat: { C: 0, M: 95, Y: 95, K: 0, tolerance: 10.0 },
            changeTo: { C: 0, M: 30, Y: 100, K: 0, name: 'My New Swatch' }
        }
    ]
)



function modifySwatches(doc, modifications) {
    if (doc == undefined) return;
    doc.activate();

    // collect suitable swatches
    var cmykSwatches = [];
    for (var s = 2; s < doc.swatches.length; s++) {
        var _swatch = doc.swatches[s];
        if (swatchIsCMYKProcess(_swatch))
            cmykSwatches.push(doc.swatches[s]);
    }

    // iterate over the modifications
    for (var n = 0; n < modifications.length; n++) {
        var modification = modifications[n],
            findWhat = modification.findWhat,
            changeTo = modification.changeTo,
            t = findWhat.tolerance || 0,
            changeToSwatch = undefined;

        // if changeTo swatch exists, store it
        if (changeTo.name != undefined) {
            try {
                if (swatchIsCMYKProcess(doc.swatches.getByName(changeTo.name)))
                    changeToSwatch = doc.swatches.getByName(changeTo.name);
            } catch (error) {
                // alert('No swatch named "' + changeTo.name + '".')
            }
        }

        // iterate over the cmyk swatches
        for (var s = 0; s < cmykSwatches.length; s++) {
            var _swatch = cmykSwatches[s];

            // check the color
            var _color = _swatch.color.spot.color;
            if (
                _color.cyan > findWhat.C - t && _color.cyan < findWhat.C + t
                && _color.magenta > findWhat.M - t && _color.magenta < findWhat.M + t
                && _color.yellow > findWhat.Y - t && _color.yellow < findWhat.Y + t
                && _color.black > findWhat.K - t && _color.black < findWhat.K + t
            ) {

                if (changeToSwatch != undefined) {
                    // get color from changeTo swatch
                    _swatch.color.spot.color = changeToSwatch.color.spot.color;
                    _swatch.name = changeTo.name + ' copy';
                } else {
                    // modify the matched color
                    _color.cyan = changeTo.C;
                    _color.magenta = changeTo.M;
                    _color.yellow = changeTo.Y;
                    _color.black = changeTo.K;
                    if (changeTo.name != undefined)
                        _swatch.name = changeTo.name;
                }

            }
        }
    }

    function swatchIsCMYKProcess(sw) {
        return !(sw.color.typename != 'SpotColor'
            || sw.color.spot.colorType != ColorModel.PROCESS
            || sw.color.spot.color.typename != 'CMYKColor');
    }
}


function addUsedColors() {

    // posted by Charu Rajput
    // from: https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/extendscript-add-used-colors-extract-used-colors-from-the-command-line/td-p/12218176

    if (app.documents.length = 0) {
        return;
    }
    var ActionSet = "colors"
    var Action1Name = "add used colors"

    var ActionString = '/version 3\n/name [ 6\n' + Hexit(ActionSet) + '\n]\n/isOpen 0\n/actionCount 1\n/action-1 {\n /name [ 15\n' + Hexit(Action1Name) + '\n ]\n /keyIndex 0\n /colorIndex 0\n /isOpen 1\n /eventCount 1\n /event-1 {\n /useRulersIn1stQuadrant 0\n /internalName (ai_plugin_swatches)\n /localizedName [ 8\n 5377617463686573\n ]\n /isOpen 0\n /isOn 1\n /hasDialog 0\n /parameterCount 2\n /parameter-1 {\n /key 1835363957\n /showInPalette 4294967295\n /type (enumerated)\n /name [ 15\n 416464205573656420436f6c6f7273\n ]\n /value 9\n }\n /parameter-2 {\n /key 1634495605\n /showInPalette 4294967295\n /type (boolean)\n /value 1\n }\n }\n}';

    createAction(ActionString, ActionSet);
    ActionString = null;
    app.doScript(Action1Name, ActionSet, false);
    app.unloadAction(ActionSet, "");

    function createAction(str, act) {
        var f = new File("~/Desktop" + act + '.aia');
        f.open('w');
        f.write(str);
        f.close();
        app.loadAction(f);
        f.remove();
    }

    function Hexit(str) {
        var hex = '';
        for (var i = 0; i < str.length; i++) {
            hex += '' + str.charCodeAt(i).toString(16);
        }
        return hex;
    }
}

[Caesar5FC6]

@m1b Thank you so much for this! I will attempt to test this out asap and let you know my results. Again, thank you for your reply!

[m1b]

I've just updated the script so if the swatch named in changeTo.name exists already, it just applies that color. It isn't great because I couldn't work out how to merge swatches.

In your case I think you would just configure "modifications" to match all your existing swatches and it should work.

- Mark