ChatGPT and Adobe Illustrator: Scripting With A.I.
Education
Introduction
The other day, I came across a fascinating video by Jake in Motion, where he used ChatGPT to create scripts for After Effects. Intrigued, I wondered if the same could be applied to Adobe Illustrator. So, I decided to give it a try, and the results exceeded my expectations. Join me on this coding adventure!
First things first, "ChatGPT" is a bit too long, so from now on, we're calling it "Chatty." It seems to be fine with that. I started with a simple request because, despite Jake's success, I felt that the scripting documentation for Illustrator is less comprehensive than that for After Effects. My goal was to create a script that would calculate the size and area of a selected object, regardless of its shape, be it a circle, square, or even a random blob. With almost no coding knowledge, I didn't know how to approach this task.
As I set out on this coding journey with Chatty, I decided to start off casually with some small talk to break the ice. I prompted Chatty with the instruction: “In JavaScript, write a code for Adobe Illustrator that calculates the size and area of a selected object.” To my surprise, Chatty responded with a wall of JavaScript code. I felt a rush of excitement and immediately tried it out in Illustrator after saving it as a .jsx file.
At first, the script worked, but I encountered an error on line 28. After pointing this out to Chatty, it tried to fix the issue, but I kept running into problems. Frustrated, I contemplated giving up, but then I remembered Jake had recommended a step-by-step approach to building the code. So, rather than asking for a complete script, I began learning the basics of JavaScript with Chatty's help.
In about an hour, I grasped the foundational concepts such as variables, data types, and conditional statements. Equipped with this knowledge, I started again by asking Chatty to write a simple script that checks if an object is selected.
Chatty provided a basic script that defined variables for the document and the selection. It utilized an if-else statement to handle different conditions for when an object is selected or not. When I ran this in Illustrator, it worked perfectly! Encouraged by this success, I asked for a more complex script that would compute the size of the selected object.
Chatty crafted this script using the same foundational principles, calculating the width and height via the geometric bounds of the object. However, while testing it, I found that the unit of measurement was mistakenly set to "points," and the decimals were excessive. I asked Chatty to adjust the measurement unit. It successfully implemented a variable to retrieve the correct measurement unit based on the active ruler configuration and adjusted the decimals accordingly.
Pleased with these improvements, I wand to explore calculating the area of selected objects next. I prompted Chatty to add this feature, and while the code worked for rectangles and ellipses, it fell short for irregular shapes. I realized that if I wanted to address this, I needed a deeper level of understanding. For a moment, I felt overwhelmed but then reminded myself that learning is part of the journey.
Determined, I suggested using the built-in .area property in Illustrator, eliminating the need for complicated calculations. Chatty adapted the script accordingly, and this time it worked flawlessly without errors, yielding accurate results.
Through this collaborative experience, I gained invaluable insights into scripting in Adobe Illustrator with AI assistance. It was an enjoyable and educational endeavor that has left me eager to delve deeper into JavaScript and potentially script more in the future.
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Keyword
ChatGPT, Adobe Illustrator, JavaScript, scripting, scripting issues, measurement units, area calculation, geometric bounds, coding knowledge, collaborative learning.
FAQ
Q: Can ChatGPT help with other programming languages?
A: Yes, ChatGPT can assist with a variety of programming languages, including but not limited to Python, JavaScript, and C++.
Q: What kind of scripts can I create with Adobe Illustrator?
A: You can create scripts for automating tasks, manipulating graphics, or extracting information from selected objects in Adobe Illustrator.
Q: Do I need advanced coding skills to use ChatGPT for scripting?
A: No, you can start with basic knowledge of coding which can be enhanced through interaction with ChatGPT.
Q: What are geometric bounds in Adobe Illustrator?
A: Geometric bounds are the smallest rectangle that can encompass the selected object, providing width and height measurements.
Q: How can I learn JavaScript effectively for script writing?
A: You can start with online tutorials, utilize AI tools like ChatGPT to ask questions, and practice writing simple scripts to grasp the basics.