Change Overprint
Script for Adobe Illustrator
Change the overprint of all elements, selected elements, or all on a selected layer.
- Change fill or stroke or both
- Set overprint on or off
- Adapt open source to customize or create other scripts
For the InDesign version of this script, see Change Overprint InDesign.
Also see related script Color Layer Items.
Change Overprint
How-to Video
How to use the script
The interface has two sections: Scope, and Overprint. Click the OK button and elements are modified as directed.
Section 1: Scope
All — every element throughout the document are affected.
Selected — only the currently selected elements are affected.
Layer — elements on the selected layer are affected. In the drop-down list, choose the desired layer.
Section 2: Overprint
Fill overprint — enable and select On or Off to change the fill overprint of elements. Disable and the fill overprint of all elements remains unchanged.
Stroke overprint — enable and select On or Off to change the stroke overprint of elements. Disable and the stroke overprint of all elements remains unchanged.
Regarding overprint
When told to overprint fill or stroke, and the item color is either zero percent CMYK or zero percent grayscale, the script does not enable overprint, and when done, alerts the user “Items with no color (white) were not set to overprint.” This behavior is to prevent inadvertently overprinting white, which results in an invisible element once printed.
Source code
(download button below)
/*
Change Overprint
Copyright 2023 William Campbell
All Rights Reserved
https://www.marspremedia.com/contact
Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software
for any purpose with or without fee is hereby granted.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
*/
(function () {
var title = "Change Overprint";
if (!/illustrator/i.test(app.name)) {
alert("Script for Illustrator", title, false);
return;
}
// Script variables.
var doc;
var layerNames;
var warningWhite;
// Reusable UI variables.
var g; // group
var gc1; // group (column)
var gc2; // group (column)
var p; // panel
var w; // window
// Permanent UI variables.
var btnCancel;
var btnOk;
var cbOPFill;
var cbOPStroke;
var grpOPFill;
var grpOPStroke;
var listLayer;
var rbAll;
var rbLayer;
var rbOPFillOff;
var rbOPFillOn;
var rbOPStrokeOff;
var rbOPStrokeOn;
var rbSelected;
// SETUP
try {
// Script requires open document.
if (!app.documents.length) {
alert("Open a document", title, false);
return;
}
doc = app.activeDocument;
// Script doesn't work in Isolation Mode.
if (doc.layers[0].name == "Isolation Mode") {
alert("Exit Isolation Mode before running script", title, false);
return;
}
(function () {
var i;
// Make list of layers.
layerNames = [];
for (i = 0; i < doc.layers.length; i++) {
layerNames.push(doc.layers[i].name);
}
})();
} catch (e) {
// Setup failed.
alert("An error has occurred.\nLine " + e.line + ": " + e.message, title, true);
return;
}
// CREATE USER INTERFACE
w = new Window("dialog", title);
w.alignChildren = "fill";
// Panel.
p = w.add("panel");
p.alignChildren = "left";
rbAll = p.add("radiobutton", undefined, "All");
rbSelected = p.add("radiobutton", undefined, "Selected");
g = p.add("group");
g.alignment = "left";
rbLayer = g.add("radiobutton", undefined, "Layer:");
listLayer = g.add("dropdownlist", undefined, layerNames);
listLayer.preferredSize.width = 150;
// Panel.
p = w.add("panel");
p.alignChildren = "left";
// Group of 2 columns.
g = p.add("group");
// Groups, columns 1 and 2.
gc1 = g.add("group");
gc1.orientation = "column";
gc1.alignChildren = "left";
gc2 = g.add("group");
gc2.orientation = "column";
gc2.alignChildren = "left";
// Rows.
cbOPFill = gc1.add("checkbox", undefined, "Fill overprint:");
grpOPFill = gc2.add("group");
rbOPFillOn = grpOPFill.add("radiobutton", undefined, "On");
rbOPFillOff = grpOPFill.add("radiobutton", undefined, "Off");
cbOPStroke = gc1.add("checkbox", undefined, "Stroke overprint:");
grpOPStroke = gc2.add("group");
rbOPStrokeOn = grpOPStroke.add("radiobutton", undefined, "On");
rbOPStrokeOff = grpOPStroke.add("radiobutton", undefined, "Off");
// Action Buttons.
g = w.add("group");
g.alignment = "center";
btnOk = g.add("button", undefined, "OK");
btnCancel = g.add("button", undefined, "Cancel");
// Panel Copyright.
p = w.add("panel");
p.add("statictext", undefined, "Copyright 2023 William Campbell");
// SET UI VALUES
if (doc.selection.length) {
rbSelected.value = true;
} else {
rbAll.value = true;
}
configureUi();
// UI ELEMENT EVENT HANDLERS
rbAll.onClick = function () {
rbSelected.value = false;
rbLayer.value = false;
configureUi();
};
rbSelected.onClick = function () {
rbAll.value = false;
rbLayer.value = false;
configureUi();
};
rbLayer.onClick = function () {
rbAll.value = false;
rbSelected.value = false;
configureUi();
};
cbOPFill.onClick = configureUi;
cbOPStroke.onClick = configureUi;
btnOk.onClick = function () {
if (rbLayer.value && !listLayer.selection) {
alert("Select a layer", " ", false);
return;
}
w.close(1);
};
btnCancel.onClick = function () {
w.close(0);
};
// DISPLAY THE DIALOG
if (w.show() == 1) {
try {
process();
if (warningWhite) {
alert("Items with no color (white) were not set to overprint");
}
} catch (e) {
alert("An error has occurred.\nLine " + e.line + ": " + e.message, title, true);
}
}
//====================================================================
// END PROGRAM EXECUTION, BEGIN FUNCTIONS
//====================================================================
function configureUi() {
if (!(rbAll.value || rbSelected.value || rbLayer.value)) {
rbAll.value = true;
}
if (doc.selection.length) {
rbSelected.enabled = true;
} else {
rbSelected.enabled = false;
}
listLayer.enabled = rbLayer.value;
if (!(rbOPFillOn.value || rbOPFillOff.value)) {
rbOPFillOn.value = true;
}
if (!(rbOPStrokeOn.value || rbOPStrokeOff.value)) {
rbOPStrokeOn.value = true;
}
grpOPFill.enabled = cbOPFill.value;
grpOPStroke.enabled = cbOPStroke.value;
}
function overprintItems(items) {
var i;
var item;
var text;
var notWhite = function (color, warn) {
if (color.constructor.name == "CMYKColor") {
if (color.black + color.cyan + color.magenta + color.yellow == 0) {
warningWhite |= warn;
return false;
}
} else if (color.constructor.name == "GrayColor") {
if (color.gray == 0) {
warningWhite |= warn;
return false;
}
}
return true;
};
for (i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
item = items[i];
if (item.constructor.name == "GroupItem") {
// Recurse (call self)
overprintItems(item.pageItems);
} else if (item.constructor.name == "CompoundPathItem") {
// Recurse (call self)
overprintItems(item.pathItems);
} else if (item.constructor.name == "TextFrame") {
// TEXT
text = item.textRange.characterAttributes;
// Fill
if (text.fillColor != "[NoColor]") {
// Fill overprint
if (cbOPFill.value) {
if (rbOPFillOn.value && notWhite(text.fillColor, true)) {
text.overprintFill = true;
} else if (rbOPFillOff.value && notWhite(text.fillColor)) {
text.overprintFill = false;
}
}
}
// Stroke
if (text.strokeColor != "[NoColor]") {
// Stroke overprint
if (cbOPStroke.value) {
if (rbOPStrokeOn.value && notWhite(text.strokeColor, true)) {
text.overprintStroke = true;
} else if (rbOPStrokeOff.value && notWhite(text.strokeColor)) {
text.overprintStroke = false;
}
}
}
} else {
// ALL OTHER, NOT TEXT
// Fill
if (item.filled) {
// Fill overprint
if (cbOPFill.value) {
if (rbOPFillOn.value && notWhite(item.fillColor, true)) {
item.fillOverprint = true;
} else if (rbOPFillOff.value && notWhite(item.fillColor)) {
item.fillOverprint = false;
}
}
}
// Stroke
if (item.stroked) {
// Stroke overprint
if (cbOPStroke.value) {
if (rbOPStrokeOn.value && notWhite(item.strokeColor, true)) {
item.strokeOverprint = true;
} else if (rbOPStrokeOff.value && notWhite(item.strokeColor)) {
item.strokeOverprint = false;
}
}
}
}
}
}
function process() {
var layer;
if (rbAll.value) {
overprintItems(doc.pageItems);
} else if (rbSelected.value) {
overprintItems(doc.selection);
} else if (rbLayer.value) {
layer = doc.layers[listLayer.selection.text];
overprintItems(layer.pageItems);
}
}
})();Change Overprint
For help installing scripts, see How to Install and Use Scripts in Adobe Creative Cloud Applications.
IMPORTANT: scripts are developed for the latest Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Many scripts work in CC 2018 and later, even some as far back as CS6, but may not perform as expected, or run at all, when used in versions prior to 2018. Photoshop features Select Subject and Preserve Details 2.0 definitely fail prior to CC 2018 (version 19) as the features do not exist in earlier versions. For best results use the latest versions of Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
IMPORTANT: by downloading any of the scripts on this page you agree that the software is provided without any warranty, express or implied. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Always make backups of important data.
IMPORTANT: fees paid for software products are the purchase of a non-exclusive license to use the software product and do not grant the purchaser any degree of ownership of the software code. Author of the intellectual property and copyright holder William Campbell retains 100% ownership of all code used in all software products regardless of the inspiration for the software product design or functionality.
