Preparing paint-by-numbers artwork requires repeated recoloring, contour cleanup, merging, numbering and production checks across large documents.
Adobe Illustrator Automation
From artwork.To production.
Custom Adobe Illustrator tooling that turns a manual image-processing workflow into a repeatable production pipeline: palette matching, contour processing, shape merging, numbering and production outputs.
Palette matchingContour cleanupShape mergingAutomatic numbering
From image to numbered artwork- Practical outcome
- Editable, numbered vector artwork for production.
- Built as
- Adobe Illustrator extension
- Focus
- Creative production automation
Case study
From repetitive manual steps to one workflow
The tool was built around an actual production process rather than a generic image effect. Each stage is designed to reduce repetitive Illustrator work while keeping outputs editable.
A custom Illustrator extension automates the workflow while keeping the operator inside the existing production environment.
A more consistent, repeatable process with less manual intervention and production-ready vector output for downstream work.
Interactive demo
Compare processing stages
Switch between stages and drag the divider to compare the original, recolored artwork and final numbered layout.
Capabilities
Built for production work
The extension combines color processing, vector cleanup and automated labeling in one tool.
Palette matching
Recolors artwork to the closest colors from a controlled production palette using multiple matching modes.
Contour processing
Handles traced vector shapes, compound paths and small contours before downstream production.
Shape merging
Combines adjacent same-color regions to reduce unnecessary fragmentation in the final artwork.
Automatic numbering
Places paint numbers inside regions with adaptive sizing and fallback handling for difficult shapes.
Color usage reporting
Generates a list of palette colors actually used in the current document for production reference.
Configurable workflow
Supports custom palette files, recoloring modes and saved font-scaling settings for repeatable jobs.
Technology
Inside the automation
The project is implemented as a custom Illustrator extension using scripting and Illustrator-native vector operations.
Technical details
- Adobe Illustrator scripting / ExtendScript
- JavaScript-based production logic
- Raster tracing and vector expansion workflow
- Nearest-palette RGB color matching
- Multiple recoloring modes based on color characteristics
- Adjacent same-color contour merging
- Compound path and contour handling
- Automatic number placement with adaptive font scaling
- Used-color reporting for production
- Persistent local configuration files
Built and tested for the current Adobe Illustrator production workflow.
Full workflow demonstration
Request a video demonstration →Need custom production automation?
I build specialized tools around real workflows, including Illustrator automation, internal systems and integrations.