ExtendScript – Use Flash in Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign
While doing some general research on which technologies are good to use if you’re doing generative artwork I stumbled upon ExtendScript. It is an extended implementation of JavaScript which can be used to control and automate the major Adobe Creative Suite Applications beeing Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. Since CS3 Flash can be used to build the GUI for using ExtendScript in these Applications.
Just to start here is a great tutorial how you can get this up and running using Flex, but it’s generally the same using just plain Actionscript in combination with ExternalInterface. Developing Flash Windows for Photoshop Using Flex
Oh and here you can find the Documentation for ExtendScript:
https://www.adobe.com/devnet/photoshop/scripting/
https://www.adobe.com/devnet/illustrator/scripting/
So why am I so amazed about this possibility? Even though by now I’ve just read the docs and didn’t try it myself I see a great possibility here:
AS Drawing API->PS output?
What if you could just script using normal, native Flash Actionscript Drawing API but send the output to Photoshop or Illustrator?
See the benefits and possibilities:
- Simple output as *.psd or *.ai file for further editing, compositing, exporting,…
- Use the powerful Photoshop and Illustrator Tools directly from Flash – no need for replicating behavior with AS Classes.
- Break the 2880px barrier by just using Flash as a scaled down Preview Window – the real output is in whatever size you need directly in Photoshop.
- I wonder what else you might come up with…
One major thing I’m not too sure about yet is performance. So there is need for further research. If I missed some Infos about this please let me know.
Otherwise check back soon as I will publish any result here soon.