Introduction

For designers, organizing objects in Adobe Illustrator is key to efficient editing and color management. When working with complex illustrations, grouping objects by fill color across separate layers makes it easier to apply consistent changes, isolate specific colors, and ensure an organized workflow. Unfortunately, Illustrator doesn’t have a built-in feature to do this automatically, so designers often have to sort objects by color manually — a time-consuming and error-prone process, especially in large projects.

Script solution

Our Color-Based Sorting Script solves this challenge by automating the process. With just one click, it identifies each object’s fill color and organizes it into dedicated layers or sublayers. This saves you the hassle of manual sorting and keeps your project clean and easy to navigate. Perfect for designers looking to streamline their workflow, this tool makes it easy to manage complex designs, identify color groupings, and maintain an efficient layer structure. Whether you’re working on branding, illustration, or intricate artwork, save time and stay organized with this essential Illustrator add-on!

How to use this script

Download the script using the link below. Since the script is provided as a zip archive, you’ll need to unzip it before use. Once unzipped, look for a file named ReleaseObjectsToLayersByFillColor.jsx.

To use the script, first open your Adobe Illustrator document. Then, drag the downloaded script file into Illustrator. A dialog box will appear once you release the mouse. Choose a process option and check the additional options. We recommend running the script with it’s default options.

figure 1: Script opened in Adobe Illustrator

figure 2: Original Illustrator vector image containing 300 path objects with different colors in one layer

figure 3: All path objects are places in color named layers

 

Support Our Scripts!

If you love using our scripts, consider making a small donation to help us keep them running smoothly. Maintaining these scripts and covering server costs isn’t free, and your support makes a big difference. Every little bit helps us continue creating, updating, and improving these tools for everyone. Thank you for being part of our community!

 
If you wish to make a donation, simply click on the “Donate with PayPal” button. You don’t need to have a PayPal account, you can use any debit or credit card when you select debit or credit card as payment method.

 

Download

Adobe Illustrator script: Sort objects to layers by object fill color

Please note we are currently updating this script. The current Beta may contain minor bugs.

Version:	1.09 Beta
License:	Creative Commons – Attribution – No Derivatives 4.0 International
Document format:	ZIP archive
File size:	6.41 KB
Downloads:	4924
Platform:	Illustrator CS4 or higher, both Windows and macOS
Rating:
Download:	ReleaseObjectsToLayersByFillColor.zip

 

Share Your Experience!

Have you used our scripts to export your Photoshop drawing into Illustrator? We hope they made your work easier and more efficient! We’d love to hear your feedback. What did you enjoy and what can we improve? Your insights are invaluable to us. Please share your thoughts in the comments below!