Scripting Variable Fonts in Illustrator

[Underware]

Hy there,

How can I set the parameters for a variable font?

The TextFont.axisVector is 'Read Only'

Greetings, Akiem

[Disposition_Dev]

by definition, you cannot set read only properties.

I'm not familiar with the axisVector property. what is it and what does it do? What are you trying to change about the font?

[Underware]

Since CC 2018 Illustrator is supporting Variable Fonts, a new version of OpenType. See here:

What You Can Do with Variable Fonts in Illustrator CC | Adobe Blog

So to get a specific weight, you are just choosing one with the slider provided by the character panel.

And after doing this, I can use within a script:

var appliedFont = selection.characters[0].textFont

$.writeln(appliedFont.axisVector)

I get an array with two values (because the font I am using has two axes): 190, 1000

And when I do this:

$.writeln(selection.appliedFont.characters[1].textFont)

I get: DuosInlinePro_190INLI_1000wght

Which actually means: Currently the font DuosInlinePro is used with the variable parameters:

190 for the INLI axis and 1000 for the weight axis

So how can I set the variable font axis by a script???

[pixxxelschubser]

There is no way by a script at the moment. This feature is to young for the old Illu DOM.

But you can do the following:

Create a new Action set. Give it a name eg Skript-Test2

Create actions and set there several values for axisVektor[1] eg 120, the next 240 and so on …

Give these actions the name what they do eg axisVektor-120

Call the action for the case you want by your script

app.doScript("axisVektor-120","Skript-Test2")

Have fun

[Underware]

Ugh...

That's strange.

Are you 100% sure about that?

[pixxxelschubser]

up to 99%, sorry.

(but the method I described before - works)

[Disposition_Dev]

after almost 4 years of scripting illustrator.. i can attest to the fact that there is NOTHING strange about the Illustrator JavaScript API. Because if EVERYTHING is strange, then nothing is strange.

Much of the API appears to be have created in segments by different developers who had no contact with one another. Especially the app.executeMenuCommand() API.... The formatting of available arguments available for that method range from lowercase, to uppercase, to titlecase, to camelCase to title case with spaces... And then after that.. they neglected to provide ANY documentation for the functionality. they literally created a near impossible puzzle, then gave no clues....

There are no surprises when it comes to scripting illustrator anymore. i simply expect the worst, and exhibit bemused surprise when something works as expected.

[q3player]

to quote Jack Reacher:

Hope for the best, plan for the worst.

[Underware]

OK, 99% aint 100%.

There seems to be a solution... through the SDK.

Once I set the dynamic font name (like Font_190wdth_1000wght) beforehand through the SDK, I can use this within JSX.

So what I need would be a small simple plugin to do this, and then communicate to this plugin from jsx...

Anybody experience with this?

[Ten A]

You can push plugin from ExtendScript using sendScriptMessage method.

[daitranthanhoa]

There seems to be a solution... through the SDK.

=> Can you share this?

[robert janes]

Hi all,

Are there any updates regarding this? It would be really handy to make the axisVector property editable, it will open up many interesting possibilities for using Variable Fonts in scripts.

[daitranthanhoa]

2020: Can you set axisVector  by Script?

[pixxxelschubser]

Sorry, but OMV Illustrator 24 Type Library says:

axisVector is still (Read Only)

[justinpenner]

Has anyone found a way to adjust the axes in variable type via script yet? It's 2022 and the axisVector property is still read-only. I thought maybe I could create a new TextFont object but that doesn't work either since there is no constructor, apparently.

I've just made a post on UserVoice about this, so please go there and vote if you want variable font support in Illustrator scripts.

https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/908050-illustrator-desktop-sdk-scripting-issues/suggestions...