Hue Saturation Lightness
Script for Adobe Illustrator
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Overview
Hue Saturation Lightness is a powerful Adobe Illustrator script designed to give you complete control over the color properties of your selected paths and text objects. With this intuitive dialog window, you can effortlessly adjust the Hue, Saturation, and Lightness of your design elements, offering precise and customizable color transformations.
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Installation
- Place the script in your Illustrator Scripts folder:
MacOS: /Applications/Adobe Illustrator <Version>/Presets/<Language>/Scripts
Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <Version>\Presets\<Language>\Scripts
- Restart Adobe Illustrator to load the script into the File > Scripts menu.
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Using the Script
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Prepare Your Document:
Ensure you have Adobe Illustrator open with at least one document active.
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Select Objects:
Select one or more objects on your artboard that you wish to adjust.
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Run the Script:
Go to File > Scripts > Hue Saturation Lightness to launch the script.
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Interact with the Dialog Window:
Upon running, a dialog window will appear with the following components:
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➊ Hue Adjustment
The Hue (H) adjustment section of the script enables precise control over the color tone of selected objects by shifting their hues along the color spectrum.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of its functionality:
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Hue Shifting Range
- Adjust hues across a -180° to +180° spectrum.
- Negative values: Shift colors counterclockwise (e.g., turning red toward purple).
- Positive values: Shift colors clockwise (e.g., turning red toward orange).
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Controls
- Slider: Drag horizontally for intuitive adjustments. Changes apply instantly to selected objects
- Input Field: Type exact values for precision (supports integers like 45, -90).
- Arrow Keys: Press ↑/↓ in the input field for incremental changes. Hold Shift + ↑/↓ for larger increments (10 units per click).
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Example Use Cases
- Turn a blue logo green by shifting hue to +60°.
- Correct color mismatches in imported artwork.
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The Hue adjustment section is ideal for creative exploration, color correction, or harmonizing palettes, offering both flexibility and precision.
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➋ Saturation Adjustment
The Saturation (S) adjustment section of the script allows users to control the intensity or vibrancy of colors in selected objects. It modifies how "pure" or "muted" a color appears, enabling both subtle tonal refinements and dramatic stylistic changes.
Below is a detailed breakdown of its functionality:
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Saturation Range
- Adjust saturation between -100% (desaturated) and +100% (oversaturated).
- Negative values: Reduce intensity, creating muted/grayish tones (e.g., turning red into pink or gray).
- Positive values: Amplify vibrancy, making colors more vivid (e.g., boosting a pale blue to a neon hue).
- 0%: Leaves saturation unchanged.
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Controls
- Slider: Drag horizontally for smooth adjustments.
- Input Field: Enter exact values (e.g., -30, +75) for precision.
- Arrow Keys: Use ↑/↓ in the input field for incremental changes. Hold Shift + ↑/↓ for larger jumps (10 units per click).
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Example Use Cases
- Create a vintage look by reducing saturation to -40%.
- Turn a muted logo into a vibrant brand asset by boosting saturation to +50%.
- Balance oversaturated colors in imported vector artwork.
- At -100%, colors become grayscale.
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The Saturation adjustment section is indispensable for achieving tonal harmony, correcting washed-out colors, or creating stylized effects like duotones or monochromatic palettes—all while maintaining a non-destructive, flexible workflow.
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➌ Lightness Adjustment
The Lightness (L) adjustment section of the script enables users to modify the brightness or luminance of colors in selected objects. It controls how light or dark a color appears, allowing for nuanced tonal adjustments—from subtle highlights to dramatic contrast shifts.
Below is a detailed breakdown of its functionality:
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Lightness Range
- Adjust brightness between -100% (darken) and +100% (brighten).
- Negative values: Reduce lightness, creating darker tones (e.g., turning blue into navy).
- Positive values: Increase lightness, producing pastel or washed-out effects (e.g., turning red into pink).
- 0%: Leaves lightness unchanged.
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Controls
- Slider: Drag horizontally for smooth adjustments.
- Input Field: Type exact values (e.g., -20, +60) for precision.
- Arrow Keys: Press ↑/↓ in the input field for incremental changes. Hold Shift + ↑/↓ for larger steps (10 units per click).
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Example Use Cases
- Create a dark theme by reducing lightness to -30%.
- Simulate sunlight effects by increasing lightness to +40% on highlights.
- Balance uneven lighting in complex vector illustrations.
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The Lightness adjustment section is essential for refining contrast, simulating lighting effects, or harmonizing color palettes—all within a non-destructive workflow that prioritizes flexibility and precision.
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➍ Finalizing Changes
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Finalize or Cancel
- Click OK to apply changes permanently.
- Click Cancel to revert to original colors.
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Tips
- Real-Time Preview: Instantly see adjustments as you make them.
- Non-Destructive Editing: Original colors remain unchanged until you confirm with OK.
- Need help? Click the ⏼ icon at the bottom right to access the online user guide.
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This script applies Hue, Saturation, and Lightness (HSL) adjustments to a variety of objects in Adobe Illustrator, including:
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- Paths/Compound Paths (Vector Shapes)
- Text Frames
- Groups
- Gradients (Linear or Radial)
- Color Modes (RGB, CMYK, Grayscale, and Spot Colors)
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➎ Additional Notes
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Exclusions/Limitations
⚠︎ The script does not apply adjustments to:
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✖ Raster Images.
✖ Pattern Swatches.
✖ Effects/Appearances.
✖ Freeform Gradients.
✖ Gradient Meshes
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Overall, the Hue Saturation Lightness script streamlines color editing, offering flexibility for both subtle tweaks and dramatic transformations.
Whether you’re looking to tweak the vibrancy, shift colors, or create unique color schemes, this script streamlines the process, saving you time while achieving professional, visually appealing results. Perfect for designers seeking an efficient way to enhance color dynamics in their projects.ㅤ
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