Randomize Layer Order Illustrator Script

Randomize layer order of Adobe Illustrator objects with a single click.

Randomizing layer order is a great way to add variety to backgrounds or textural designs quickly and easily. If there are many overlapping objects all stacked on top of each other, this random layer order function can really help bring in some visual interest to the design. It doesn’t get simpler than this one. There are no extra options or checkboxes–just turn on the Layer Order function, select the Randomize mode, and click the run button at the top of the Randomill panel.

Layer order randomization can respect parent layers.

As of Randomill 2.1.0, users have the option to respect parent layers. This means that users can choose whether or not layers stay within their own parent layers when they’re randomized, or if layers can move around between parent layers freely. Regardless, selected layers are only randomized relative to other selected layers. This means that other, intermediate layers that are not selected will not have their positions change in the layer stack.

When would you want to randomize layer order in Adobe Illustrator?

Randomizing layer order with this illustrator script can be a great way of adding some variety and uniform (but non-repetetive) overlapping effects in your designs. This works especially well when working with many overlapping layers that have varying blend modes and opacities. Speaking of those properties, take a look at Randomill’s random opacity and random blend mode functions. Combing Randomill’s various functions together really bring out the full strength of this plugin.