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Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is the industry-standard vector graphics application. Its developer platform offers scripting APIs, UXP plugins, CEP extensions, and a C++ SDK for building custom integrations and automating workflows.

3 APIs 10 Features
Creative CloudDesignIllustratorVector Graphics

APIs

Adobe Illustrator Scripting API

The Adobe Illustrator Scripting API provides programmatic access to Illustrator's functionality through JavaScript, AppleScript, and VBScript. It allows developers to automate r...

Adobe Illustrator Plugin SDK

The Adobe Illustrator Plugin SDK enables developers to build native C++ plug-ins for Illustrator on Windows and macOS. The SDK opens the entire application to developer control,...

Adobe Illustrator CEP Extensions API

The Adobe Illustrator Common Extensibility Platform (CEP) allows developers to build panels and extensions using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. CEP extensions run inside Illustrator...

Features

Vector Document Automation

Create, modify, and export vector artwork programmatically via scripting APIs.

UXP Plugin Framework

Build modern plugins using JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and Adobe Spectrum UI components.

Text Manipulation

Create, edit, and format text frames, paragraphs, and character styles.

Path and Shape Operations

Create and manipulate vector paths, compound shapes, and bezier curves.

Color Management

Work with swatches, gradients, patterns, and color spaces programmatically.

Artboard Management

Create, resize, reorder, and export individual artboards.

SVG Export

Export artwork as optimized SVG for web and interactive use.

Data-Driven Graphics

Generate artwork variations from data using variables and data sets.

Batch Processing

Process multiple files with consistent operations using Actions and scripts.

Symbol Libraries

Create, manage, and reuse symbol instances across documents.

Use Cases

Design System Automation

Generate icon sets, component libraries, and design tokens from data.

Brand Asset Production

Batch produce branded materials with consistent styling and color palettes.

Print Production

Automate print-ready output with bleed, crop marks, and color separation.

SVG Asset Pipeline

Export optimized SVGs for web applications from Illustrator artwork.

Data Visualization

Create charts, maps, and infographics from data using scripting.

Custom Tool Panels

Build UXP plugin panels for specialized workflows and asset management.

Solutions

Illustrator UXP Plugins

Modern plugin platform for extending Illustrator with JavaScript and HTML.

Illustrator Scripting

Automation via JavaScript, AppleScript, or VBScript for batch workflows.

Illustrator C++ SDK

Native plugin SDK for performance-critical tools and filters.

Semantic Vocabularies

Adobe Illustrator Context

15 classes · 94 properties

JSON-LD

API Governance Rules

Adobe Illustrator API Rules

17 rules · 14 errors 2 warnings 1 info

SPECTRAL

Resources

🔗
Website
Website
🔗
Documentation
Documentation
🔗
WhatsNew
WhatsNew
📄
ChangeLog
ChangeLog
💬
Support
Support
🌐
Portal
Portal
📰
Blog
Blog
👥
GitHubOrganization
GitHubOrganization
🔗
Forum
Forum
🔗
Forum
Forum
🎓
Tutorials
Tutorials
🔗
Documentation
Documentation
👥
StackOverflow
StackOverflow
🟢
StatusPage
StatusPage
🔗
X
X
👥
YouTube
YouTube
🔗
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
💰
Pricing
Pricing
🔗
Security
Security
🔗
TrustCenter
TrustCenter
📜
TermsOfService
TermsOfService
📜
PrivacyPolicy
PrivacyPolicy
🔗
License
License

Sources

Raw ↑
aid: adobe-illustrator
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/adobe-illustrator/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
name: Adobe Illustrator
type: Index
image: https://kinlane-productions.s3.amazonaws.com/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
tags:
- Creative Cloud
- Design
- Illustrator
- Vector Graphics
description: Adobe Illustrator is the industry-standard vector graphics application. Its developer platform offers scripting
  APIs, UXP plugins, CEP extensions, and a C++ SDK for building custom integrations and automating workflows.
created: '2025-01-01'
modified: '2026-05-19'
specificationVersion: '0.19'
apis:
- aid: adobe-illustrator:scripting-api
  name: Adobe Illustrator Scripting API
  tags:
  - AppleScript
  - Automation
  - JavaScript
  - Scripting
  - VBScript
  image: https://kinlane-productions2.s3.amazonaws.com/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
  baseURL: https://api.example.com
  humanURL: https://developer.adobe.com/illustrator/
  properties:
  - url: https://developer.adobe.com/illustrator/
    type: Documentation
  - url: openapi/adobe-illustrator-scripting-openapi-original.yml
    type: OpenAPI
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/scripting-application.yaml
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/scripting-artboards.yaml
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/scripting-documents.yaml
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/scripting-graphic-styles.yaml
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/scripting-layers.yaml
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/scripting-path-items.yaml
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/scripting-swatches.yaml
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/scripting-symbols.yaml
  - type: NaftikoCapability
    url: capabilities/scripting-text-frames.yaml
  description: The Adobe Illustrator Scripting API provides programmatic access to Illustrator's functionality through JavaScript,
    AppleScript, and VBScript. It allows developers to automate repetitive tasks, manipulate documents, select and edit text,
    generate art from data, and batch process files. Scripts can control nearly every aspect of Illustrator, from creating
    and modifying paths and shapes to managing layers, colors, and typography, enabling efficient workflow automation for
    designers and developers.
- aid: adobe-illustrator:plugin-sdk
  name: Adobe Illustrator Plugin SDK
  tags:
  - C++
  - Extensions
  - Plugins
  - SDK
  image: https://kinlane-productions2.s3.amazonaws.com/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
  baseURL: https://api.example.com
  humanURL: https://developer.adobe.com/illustrator/
  properties:
  - url: https://developer.adobe.com/illustrator/
    type: Documentation
  description: The Adobe Illustrator Plugin SDK enables developers to build native C++ plug-ins for Illustrator on Windows
    and macOS. The SDK opens the entire application to developer control, allowing extensions to add new functions, automate
    workflows, parse and manipulate image data, apply custom effects, add custom tools to the toolbar, and extend menu functionality.
    It provides deep integration with Illustrator's architecture for building high-performance extensions.
- aid: adobe-illustrator:cep-extensions
  name: Adobe Illustrator CEP Extensions API
  tags:
  - CEP
  - CSS
  - Extensions
  - HTML
  - JavaScript
  - Panels
  image: https://kinlane-productions2.s3.amazonaws.com/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
  baseURL: https://api.example.com
  humanURL: https://developer.adobe.com/illustrator/
  properties:
  - url: https://developer.adobe.com/illustrator/
    type: Documentation
  description: The Adobe Illustrator Common Extensibility Platform (CEP) allows developers to build panels and extensions
    using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. CEP extensions run inside Illustrator and can communicate with the application through
    its scripting interface, enabling developers to create custom user interfaces, integrate with web services, and extend
    Illustrator's capabilities with modern web technologies. CEP provides a cross-application framework used across Adobe
    Creative Cloud products.
common:
- url: https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html
  type: Website
  description: Adobe Illustrator product page with overview of features, use cases, and plan options for the industry-standard
    vector graphics software.
- url: https://developer.adobe.com/illustrator/
  type: Documentation
  description: Adobe Illustrator developer portal with scripting documentation, plugin SDK guides, and extension development
    resources.
- url: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/desktop/new-features/whats-new.html
  type: WhatsNew
  description: Latest features and improvements added to Adobe Illustrator across recent releases.
- url: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/desktop/new-features/release-notes.html
  type: ChangeLog
  description: Release notes with summaries of updates, new features, and fixed issues for each Illustrator release.
- url: https://helpx.adobe.com/support/illustrator.html
  type: Support
  description: Adobe Illustrator help and support hub with troubleshooting guides, FAQs, and known issue documentation.
- url: https://developer.adobe.com/developer-console/
  type: Portal
  description: Adobe Developer Console for accessing APIs, SDKs, managing projects, and building integrations with Adobe products.
- url: https://blog.developer.adobe.com/
  type: Blog
  description: Adobe Developers blog featuring technical articles, API updates, and developer community news.
- url: https://github.com/adobe
  type: GitHubOrganization
  description: Adobe official GitHub organization with open source projects, SDKs, and developer tools.
- url: https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/bd-p/illustrator
  type: Forum
  description: Adobe Community forum for Illustrator discussions, questions, and peer support from designers and developers.
- url: https://forums.creativeclouddeveloper.com
  type: Forum
  description: Creative Cloud developer forums for extension and plugin development discussions across Adobe products.
- url: https://www.adobe.com/learn/illustrator
  type: Tutorials
  description: Official Adobe Illustrator learning resources with tutorials, guides, and learning paths for all skill levels.
- url: https://ai-scripting.docsforadobe.dev/
  type: Documentation
  description: Community-maintained Adobe Illustrator scripting guide covering JavaScript, AppleScript, and VBScript with
    detailed object reference.
- url: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/adobe-illustrator
  type: StackOverflow
  description: Stack Overflow questions tagged with adobe-illustrator for developer Q&A and troubleshooting.
- url: https://status.adobe.com/
  type: StatusPage
  description: Adobe service status dashboard showing real-time availability and incident information for Adobe products and
    services.
- url: https://x.com/Illustrator
  type: X
  description: Official Adobe Illustrator account on X (formerly Twitter) with product updates and design inspiration.
- url: https://www.youtube.com/@AdobeCreativeCloud
  type: YouTube
  description: Adobe Creative Cloud YouTube channel with Illustrator tutorials, feature demos, and creative workflow tips.
- url: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adobe
  type: LinkedIn
  description: Adobe official LinkedIn company page with news, job openings, and industry updates.
- url: https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/pricing-info.html
  type: Pricing
  description: Adobe Illustrator pricing information with annual and monthly plan options.
- url: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/illustrator.html
  type: Security
  description: Adobe Illustrator security bulletins and advisories with vulnerability disclosures and patch information.
- url: https://www.adobe.com/trust.html
  type: TrustCenter
  description: Adobe Trust Center covering security practices, privacy commitments, compliance certifications, and data governance.
- url: https://www.adobe.com/legal/terms.html
  type: TermsOfService
  description: Adobe General Terms of Use governing the use of Adobe products and services.
- url: https://www.adobe.com/privacy/policy.html
  type: PrivacyPolicy
  description: Adobe Privacy Policy detailing how Adobe collects, uses, and protects user data across its products and services.
- url: https://www.adobe.com/legal/licenses-terms.html
  type: License
  description: Adobe product licenses and terms including end user license agreements for Creative Cloud applications.
- type: Features
  data:
  - name: Vector Document Automation
    description: Create, modify, and export vector artwork programmatically via scripting APIs.
  - name: UXP Plugin Framework
    description: Build modern plugins using JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and Adobe Spectrum UI components.
  - name: Text Manipulation
    description: Create, edit, and format text frames, paragraphs, and character styles.
  - name: Path and Shape Operations
    description: Create and manipulate vector paths, compound shapes, and bezier curves.
  - name: Color Management
    description: Work with swatches, gradients, patterns, and color spaces programmatically.
  - name: Artboard Management
    description: Create, resize, reorder, and export individual artboards.
  - name: SVG Export
    description: Export artwork as optimized SVG for web and interactive use.
  - name: Data-Driven Graphics
    description: Generate artwork variations from data using variables and data sets.
  - name: Batch Processing
    description: Process multiple files with consistent operations using Actions and scripts.
  - name: Symbol Libraries
    description: Create, manage, and reuse symbol instances across documents.
- type: UseCases
  data:
  - name: Design System Automation
    description: Generate icon sets, component libraries, and design tokens from data.
  - name: Brand Asset Production
    description: Batch produce branded materials with consistent styling and color palettes.
  - name: Print Production
    description: Automate print-ready output with bleed, crop marks, and color separation.
  - name: SVG Asset Pipeline
    description: Export optimized SVGs for web applications from Illustrator artwork.
  - name: Data Visualization
    description: Create charts, maps, and infographics from data using scripting.
  - name: Custom Tool Panels
    description: Build UXP plugin panels for specialized workflows and asset management.
- type: Solutions
  data:
  - name: Illustrator UXP Plugins
    description: Modern plugin platform for extending Illustrator with JavaScript and HTML.
  - name: Illustrator Scripting
    description: Automation via JavaScript, AppleScript, or VBScript for batch workflows.
  - name: Illustrator C++ SDK
    description: Native plugin SDK for performance-critical tools and filters.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: [email protected]