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zippidi
Inspiring
August 12, 2017
Answered

Illustrator Action to Rename Layer and apply custom spot colour to shape

  • August 12, 2017
  • 4 replies
  • 7969 views

I cannot believe how hard this is proving to be.

If not this type of thing then what are actions for?

All I want to do is something that should so simple and easily facilitated in Illustrator which is to rename 2 layers (because Illustrator programmers in their wisdom - decide for us that when we import a PSD file with named layers then they get tagged with 'Image' at the end).

Rename 2 layers and apply a custom spot colour to a shape.

I have defined the spot colour - set it to persistent - but nothing at all happens with the action - 'cannot find swatch' is all that happens and the layers do not get renamed.

Can someone please help with this.

Take care

Alan

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Stephen Marsh

EDIT: It all seems to work as intended. I can record a video of the process if you like!

yes please - that would be great.


I have had some flaky behaviour… Sometimes the action has an error… then the next time it plays perfectly!

SWF video files, so no good on iOS devices:

Manual Run

http://www.screencast.com/t/9xDw04MI

Batch Run

http://www.screencast.com/t/Bwy6U2Qa

4 replies

M
Mike Sofa
Inspiring
August 14, 2017

To apply a custom spot as part of an action, try this:

Create a document with an object that uses the required spot color. Save it in a permanent location.

As part of the action, record something like this:

1. Open file (the document using the color)

2. Select all

3. Copy

4. Close (without saving)

5. Paste

6. Delete

The document will now have the custom spot color.

Good luck!

    Stephen Marsh
    Community Expert
    Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 14, 2017

    Agreed Mike, I mentioned 2 different approaches of doing this in post #15 and #17 – apart from user error, I don’t know why it is not working for the OP.

    Stephen Marsh
    Community Expert
    Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 14, 2017

    Scripting would be a better solution, however for those of use that can’t script or wait for the generosity of those that can, alternative methods are required…

    There may be a better action method, this is just what I came up with first that actually worked as intended!

    You can download the zipped action here:

    Dropbox - CutContour.aia.zip

    Explanation (as you wanted to learn rather than just have the work done for you):

    1) Edit the new document profile for “print” to include the required spot swatch. This is on the Mac OS from within the user library, you will need to search for the location or file on your system if you are Win OS based:

    Now whenever a new doc is created using the “print” new document profile, the required swatch will be included.

    2) Before running the batch action, create a new doc using the “print” profile to prime/preset, don’t save this file, it is just a means to an end.

    3) Before running the batch action, first run the first action “01 - Prime Batch” in the downloaded action set:

    This “01 - Prime Batch” action is used to prime/preset the clipboard with an object containing the spot colour CutContour, don’t save this new document, it is just a means to an end.

    4) You will need to delete and resave the final action step in second action “02 - Batch Run” so that the save path and file format is correct for your operating system.

    5) Use the Action’s Batch command to run the second action “02 - Batch Run” to batch save the source files.

    Ensure that when using the Batch command, that you are overriding the action save commands so that the batch output path is used and not the recorded path (the file format will still be used though).

    6) Enjoy! Let me know if any step or methodology needs a deeper explanation.

      Z
      zippidiAuthor
      Inspiring
      August 14, 2017

      Thanks for your efforts - the same error occurs 'cannot find swatch.'

      This is really more hassle than advantage.

      I will just open the PSD files in Illustrator and edit them manually - the difference in time between this and running an action ..... I don't know - they are large files.

      FYI - I need to open the PSD fie in Illustrator so I can apply the spot colour to the rounded rectangle shape and save it as a PDF with layers - Adobe in their wisdom did not include this option with saving PDFs in Photoshop.

      Thanks very much for trying to help.

      I cannot believe why this is so convoluted and difficult - 2 simple things rename 2 layers and apply a custom spot.

      UNBELIEVABLE !!!!

      Alan

      Stephen Marsh
      Community Expert
      Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      August 14, 2017

      Thanks for your efforts - the same error occurs 'cannot find swatch.'

      Did you preset your system as in steps 1-3? It should work without error if the first three steps are correctly followed from my step by step. I did test this thoroughly.

      You could just as easily open any file and copy/cut the object that had the correct CutContour spot colour applied, before running the batch.

        Stephen Marsh
        Community Expert
        Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 14, 2017

        Initial thoughts/questions:

        1) Why take the PSD file into Illustrator (is it just to make a spot colour path)?

        2) Do you have Acrobat Pro?

        3) Do you really need layers, or will the spot colour be enough? Is it just that you need the 100%M fill shape from Photoshop coloured as a spot colour called “CutContour” for a cutter path in say VersaWorks (can it be a fill with no stroke, or does it have to be a stroke with no fill)?

        4) What is the bare minimum result and or must have steps (i.e. spot vector path), vs. nice to have (i.e. such as layers)

        5) Perhaps Illustrator is not be the best place to perform this task.

        Kurt Gold
        Community Expert
        Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 12, 2017

        Which version of Illustrator are you using?

        Are you sure that you are trying to rename layers? Or are you perhaps talking about objects? You can check that by double clicking the item in the Layers palette: It is an object if an Options dialog pops up. It is a layer if a Layers Options dialog appears.

        To what shape are you trying to apply a spot colour? What do you mean by "defined the spot colour - set it to persistent"?

        Can you share a sample .ai file with some further instructions?

        Z
        zippidiAuthor
        Inspiring
        August 12, 2017

        Thanks for your reply. Firstly, it is not an AI file.

        I am opening a Photoshop file with 2 named layers - these layers have to exactly named so that a cutter recognises them.

        When you open a PSD file in Illustrator as objects - Illustrator in it's confounded wisdom tags the end of the layer name with 'image.'

        For example - if my layer in Photoshop is named 'CutContour' Illustrator will rename it 'CutContour Image.'

        As a consequence of this completely stupid idea by whatever idiot at Adobe decided this would be a useful idea - I have to rename the 'LAYER' (not object) as when I save this as a PDF I want the named layers to show up exactly as they should in the PDF file.

        It doesn't appear to be possible.

        I have 2 layers - the top layer should be named 'CutContour' and the bottom layer should be named 'New Quickset.'

        Also, on the CutContour layer I have an object which is a rounded rectangle - I need to a apply a Spot Colour to this which is 100% Magenta so that when I save this as a PDF file with layers - it shows up as a 'Spot Plates - CutContour.

        I can't believe this is such a convoluted and difficult exercise - any help would be appreciated.

        And yes, it is a layer I want to rename. It is the top level layer name I need change.

        Thanks

        Alan

        Kurt Gold
        Community Expert
        Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 12, 2017

        Can you open one of your .psd files, save it as an .ai file and then post a download link? I'd prefer to take a look at a sample file, rather than guessing.

        There should be a way, even if it is not as straightforward as you may expect.

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