How to ramdomly select shapes from alle shapes of a layer?

[andersp88673916]

Hi Illustrator wizards out there!
I have got the project to do a pattern for a 3D pot, where I need to do a displacement map. The displacement map needs the "dots" from the pattern to come out in white, and then lesser and lesser white, randomly throughout the pattern. So, in this case I won't be able to just throw a gradiant at it. Is there a way of doing this, instead of manually go through all the dots, which would take like a days work?

thank you in advance and best regards,
Anders

[Monika Gause]

You could take a look at the plugin Stipplism. It will help create dotted maps.

[andersp88673916]

This doesn't really help with my problem. I have already made the dotted pattern (see attached image in the question posted.) I need a way to select randomly between already made dots. Is there a way to do this? Or random colorize between selected dots?

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

I know that you already have it.

There are scripts that can select randomly, but with all these objects they will probably not work too well maybe not work at all.

Random deselect from selected objects: Any script/method to deselect random amount of objects among them?

Random Select: https://astutegraphics.com/blog/30-must-free-illustrator-scripts-2/​ (link in this one seems to not work anymore, try GitHub - marcusguttenplan/adobe_scripts  )

[KShinabery212]

This is a tough one.  I probably would have done some of the shapes in a different layer or group and then go back and change the colors.  Granted that might take experimentation... seeing what looks better.

But I do not think there is a way to randomly pick pshapes and color them.  I could be wrong.

However, I did find tutorials on Randomly changing size in some YouTube Videos.  There are some Random Color Tutorials as well.  However.... the videos I briefly viewed quickly do not seem to be so random.

You might have to go in and select some individual dots to change their color.  I know that sounds like torture.  Or you might have to start from scratch with the method of doing some colors in a different layer or group.

But who knows maybe there is action or script that will do this.  I just could not find one.     Do not give up hope, just because I could not find one does not mean there is not one.

[andersp88673916]

Dammit.. I gues you are right. Well.. I'll do it the hard way untill something comes up.

[KShinabery212]

Sorry about that.  But do not feel bad, I have ended up in the same boat.

I thought I was doing something and then it turned out that there might not be an option to continue in the direction I thought things would go.

I still would love to see the final image as the black and white version looks awesome!  So make sure you share it here in the forum.  Also, you never know the black and white version could come in handy!  Example... it could be a popular image to sell on Redbubble with the Christmas Holidays only a few months away.  It could be a cool all over shirt.

Or.... take the black and white image and put some kind of message on it.  Like 'Ski God' or 'Winter Wonderland' in color in a funky fun font.  Then sell it on Redbubble!  Do not just trash it and start over!  I think it still will be useful and could earn some money for drinks or coffee!  I sell a lot of my artwork now and even some of the stuff that were mistakes.  Brings in some extra pocket change for me and my PayPal account. 

[andersp88673916]

Haha, true, and nice suggestions, but this is not up to me unfortunatly. It's the company here in Denmark I work for that controls that, this is just another project for hour marketing department. I am just the 3D designer hehe.
But thank you!

Best regards
Anders

[Monika Gause]

andersp88673916  schrieb

Haha, true, and nice suggestions, but this is not up to me unfortunatly. It's the company here in Denmark I work for that controls that, this is just another project for hour marketing department. I am just the 3D designer hehe.
But thank you!

Best regards
Anders

I posted some scripts. Did you perhaps overlook them?

[andersp88673916]

Sorry did not see that How do I get the script, where you changes the colors of selected shapes to the colors you select from swatches? That sounds exactly like what I need!

[Monika Gause]

All the mentioned scripts are linked in those posts

[tromboniator]

If what you really want is random, try this script: Random Swatch Fill

Select the swatches of the colors you want, select all the dots, run the script. The results appear to be rather close to truly random, so don't expect anything like even distribution. You may want to run it several (or even many) times before you get what you want.

Peter

[Kurt Gold]

You may also take a look at the various Symbolism tools to randomise the appearance attributes of the dots (inside a symbol set).

A bit of reworking would probably be required.