stroke to new layer

[aviel222]

I have a document with 3 shapes that each have a line with a different spot color:

1. Cut contour
2. Big
3. Pnimi

The script is like this:

I need the computer to recognize the spots
and will turn them into spot colors with the following values:

CutContour = R=255 G=0 B=0
Big = R=0 G=255 B=0
Pnimi = R=0 G=0 B=255


After that, will move all the lines to a new layer.

[m1b]

Please post example file. (Save as .pdf because forum software doesn't accept .ai files.)

- Mark

[aviel222]

???

[Monika Gause]

95% of people here are helping in their spare time. Also: it's the weekend.

[m1b]

Exactly Monika! Also we are trying to leave answers that can help future visitors, too. - Mark

[m1b · Accepted solution]

Here is a script that will do what you ask. I've made a function that works with CMYK as well as RGB colors. You can change the settings in the breakdowns object.

- Mark

/**
 * Change the color model and breakdown
 * of spot colors in active document.
 * @discussion https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/stroke-to-new-layer/m-p/13725064
 */
(function () {

    var breakdowns = {
        CutContour: [255, 0, 0],
        Big: [0, 255, 0],
        Pnimi: [0, 0, 255],
    };

    var doc = app.activeDocument,
        counter = 0;

    // get the colors
    for (var swatchName in breakdowns) {
        try {
            setSwatchSpotColor(doc.swatches.getByName(swatchName), breakdowns[swatchName]);
            counter++;
        } catch (error) { }
    }

    alert('Changed ' + counter + ' spot colors.');

})();


/**
 * Sets the color of a spot color swatch
 * based on the breakdown supplied.
 * @author m1b
 * @version 2023-04-17
 * @Param {Swatch} swatch - an Illustrator Swatch.
 * @Param {Array<Number>} breakdown - the color breakdown [R, G, B] or [C, M, Y, K].
 */
function setSwatchSpotColor(swatch, breakdown) {

    if (swatch.color.typename !== 'SpotColor')
        return;

    var newColor;

    if (breakdown.length === 3) {
        newColor = new RGBColor();
        newColor.red = breakdown[0];
        newColor.green = breakdown[1];
        newColor.blue = breakdown[2];
    }

    else if (breakdown.length === 4) {
        newColor = new CMYKColor();
        newColor.cyan = breakdown[0];
        newColor.magenta = breakdown[1];
        newColor.yellow = breakdown[2];
        newColor.black = breakdown[3];
    }

    swatch.color.spot.color = newColor;

};

[aviel222]

Excellent, but I want the colors to move to a new layer

Thanks

[jduncan · Accepted solution]

Add, the code below right after the line `alert('Changed ' + counter + ' spot colors.');` in @m1bs script.

A few caveats...

1.  Iterating over all `pathItems` can be expensive in files with lots of paths. If you do have very complicated files with lots of paths, I would try selecting all of the shapes you are targeting first and then working with only the items in the `app.activeDocument.selection` array.
2.  If your document has clipping masks, compound paths, or other funky pageItems, then your script will have to get more complex to handle all of those situations. As it is now, it only works with simple pathItems.
3.  Moving pathItems that are layered in a specific way or are part of some type of collection can have unintended consequences, so pay close attention to the before and after results.

  // make a new layer to hold the items
  layer = app.activeDocument.layers.add();
  layer.name = "MOVED HERE";

  // iterate over all path items and check if their stroke, if it matches
  // any of the items in 'breakdowns' then move that path to the new layer
  var item,
    counter = 0;
  for (var i = 0; i < doc.pathItems.length; i++) {
    item = doc.pathItems[i];
    if (
      item.stroked &&
      item.strokeColor.typename == "SpotColor" &&
      breakdowns.hasOwnProperty(item.strokeColor.spot.name)
    ) {
      item.move(layer, ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND);
      counter++;
    }
  }

  alert("Moved " + counter + " path items.");

[aviel222]

I have more question  

can you add in the end of script a command that delete all Colors from the Color list?

[jduncan]

Just add the code below at the end of the main code block right after the code I provided yesterday. It will delete any swatches not defined in the `breakdowns` object and will also clean up any empty swatch groups.

// remove all swatches not defined in breakdowns object
var swatch,
  counter = 0;
for (var i = doc.swatches.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
  swatch = doc.swatches[i];
  if (!breakdowns.hasOwnProperty(swatch.name)) {
    swatch.remove();
    counter++;
  }
}

alert("Deleted " + counter + " swatches.");

// remove any left over swatch groups
var swatchGroup,
  counter = 0;
for (var i = doc.swatchGroups.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
  swatchGroup = doc.swatchGroups[i];
  if (swatchGroup.getAllSwatches().length == 0) {
    swatchGroup.remove();
    counter++;
  }
}

alert("Deleted " + counter + " empty swatch groups.");

[aviel222]

Thanks but I need that the script deletes all swatches (the breakdown too)

[jduncan]

Then just change the first for loop in the above code to this... Note, this will still leave the "Registration" swatch.

counter = 0;
for (var i = doc.swatches.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
  doc.swatches[i].remove();
  counter++;
}

[aviel222]

here the code. it's not working:

// remove all swatches not defined in breakdowns object
var swatch,
counter = 0;
for (var i = doc.swatches.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
doc.swatches[i].remove();
counter++;
}

}
}

alert("Deleted " + counter + " swatches.");

// remove any left over swatch groups
var swatchGroup,
counter = 0;
for (var i = doc.swatchGroups.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
swatchGroup = doc.swatchGroups[i];
if (swatchGroup.getAllSwatches().length == 0) {
swatchGroup.remove();
counter++;
}
}

alert("Deleted " + counter + " empty swatch groups.");

[jduncan · Accepted solution]

Here's the entire script and it works fine for me (see the screencast video).

/**
 * Change the color model and breakdown
 * of spot colors in active document.
 * @discussion https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/stroke-to-new-layer/m-p/13725064
 */
(function () {
  var breakdowns = {
    CutContour: [255, 0, 0],
    Big: [0, 255, 0],
    Pnimi: [0, 0, 255],
  };

  var doc = app.activeDocument,
    counter = 0;

  // get the colors
  for (var swatchName in breakdowns) {
    try {
      setSwatchSpotColor(doc.swatches.getByName(swatchName), breakdowns[swatchName]);
      counter++;
    } catch (error) {}
  }

  alert("Changed " + counter + " spot colors.");

  // make a new layer to hold the items
  layer = app.activeDocument.layers.add();
  layer.name = "MOVED HERE";

  // iterate over all path items and check if their stroke, if it matches
  // any of the items in 'breakdowns' then move that path to the new layer
  var item,
    counter = 0;
  for (var i = 0; i < doc.pathItems.length; i++) {
    item = doc.pathItems[i];
    if (
      item.stroked &&
      item.strokeColor.typename == "SpotColor" &&
      breakdowns.hasOwnProperty(item.strokeColor.spot.name)
    ) {
      item.move(layer, ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND);
      counter++;
    }
  }

  alert("Moved " + counter + " path items.");

  // remove all swatches not defined in breakdowns object
  counter = 0;
  for (var i = doc.swatches.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    doc.swatches[i].remove();
    counter++;
  }

  alert("Deleted " + counter + " swatches.");

  // remove any left over swatch groups
  var swatchGroup,
    counter = 0;
  for (var i = doc.swatchGroups.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    swatchGroup = doc.swatchGroups[i];
    if (swatchGroup.getAllSwatches().length == 0) {
      swatchGroup.remove();
      counter++;
    }
  }

  alert("Deleted " + counter + " empty swatch groups.");
})();

/**
 * Sets the color of a spot color swatch
 * based on the breakdown supplied.
 * @author m1b
 * @version 2023-04-17
 * @Param {Swatch} swatch - an Illustrator Swatch.
 * @Param {Array<Number>} breakdown - the color breakdown [R, G, B] or [C, M, Y, K].
 */
function setSwatchSpotColor(swatch, breakdown) {
  if (swatch.color.typename !== "SpotColor") return;

  var newColor;

  if (breakdown.length === 3) {
    newColor = new RGBColor();
    newColor.red = breakdown[0];
    newColor.green = breakdown[1];
    newColor.blue = breakdown[2];
  } else if (breakdown.length === 4) {
    newColor = new CMYKColor();
    newColor.cyan = breakdown[0];
    newColor.magenta = breakdown[1];
    newColor.yellow = breakdown[2];
    newColor.black = breakdown[3];
  }

  swatch.color.spot.color = newColor;
}