Adobe Illustrator Gang Sheet Script

Project Scope: Automated Gang Sheet Builder for Adobe Illustrator
Objective

Develop or refine an Adobe Illustrator scripting solution (JSX script or UXP/CEP panel) to automate gang sheet creation for print-and-cut production workflows. The script should support precise artwork placement, automatic cutline generation, and dual-export functionality tailored for production environments.

Functional Requirements

1. Artwork Input

User can select either a folder or multiple individual artwork files.

Supported file types: .ai, .pdf, .eps, .svg, .png, .jpg.

Optional filename-based quantity parsing (e.g., label_x5.png places 5 copies).

2. Placement Engine (Gang Layout)

Auto-arranges items in a row-wise flow (left-to-right, then wraps to next row).

User-defined margins and spacing (horizontal and vertical).

Optionally auto-grows the document height to accommodate all items (up to 216 inches).

Optionally scales down items to fit within specified width/height limits.

3. Cutline Generation

Supports two cutline types, generated on separate layers with spot colors and overprint enabled:

Kiss Cut: Small offset (e.g., 0.0625"), spot color (e.g., Magenta), 1pt stroke.

Through Cut: Larger offset (e.g., +0.125" beyond kiss), spot color (e.g., Cyan), 1pt stroke.

Extended Requirement: Custom Cut Paths

Ability to generate cutlines using:

A standard shape (circle or rectangle),

The visual bounds of the artwork (e.g., based on transparency or bounding box),

Existing path items embedded within the artwork.

Supports offsetting paths using Illustrator’s path operations (e.g., Pathfinder > Offset Path logic).

4. Registration Marks

Automatically adds 5 registration marks:

3 at the top (left, center, right)

2 at the bottom (left, right)

Drawn as spot-stroked vector circles on a dedicated layer.

5. Dual Export Functionality

Generates two separate PDF exports using Illustrator’s built-in export preset system:

_PRINT: Includes artwork and registration marks.

_CUT: Includes kiss cut, through cut, and registration marks.

Supports use of a custom PDF export preset (e.g., CutPrep_PDF).

6. User Interface (UI)

Implemented via ScriptUI or HTML panel (for UXP).

Interface elements include:

Folder/file picker

Checkbox for filename-based quantity parsing

Margin and spacing controls

Cutline type selection: Kiss, Through, or Both

Cutline shape: Circle, Rectangle, or Artwork Shape

Offset and stroke width inputs

Registration mark controls

Export action buttons

Technical Requirements

Developed using Adobe Illustrator’s scripting API (JSX).

Uses Illustrator's DOM effectively: PathItems, GroupItems, Layers, Swatches, ExportFile, etc.

Optional: Panel version (CEP or UXP) if broader integration is desired.

Deliverables

Fully functional .jsx script or .jsx/.html panel.

Cleanly organized layer and swatch structure for output files.

Sample output files for testing and validation.

Inline code documentation and optionally a short user guide (PDF).

Developer Qualifications

Expert-level experience with Adobe Illustrator scripting (JSX).

Solid understanding of Illustrator's layer and object model.

Prior experience developing tools for print, cut, or packaging workflows.

(Optional) Experience with UXP or CEP development for Adobe apps.