Arrange and Sort Layer Order Illustrator Script

Sort object layer order by where those objects are in the document.

This function is a great way to organize your layer stack, and prep it for subsequent uses of other Randomill functions. Many of Randomill’s functions all depend on layer order. For example, all of the ‘shift’, ‘target’, and ‘oscillate’ modes are reliant on the layer order of objects. Therefore, users must have the ability to quickly arrange layer order in preparation for use of these functions. That’s where this function shines. When using this function, all selected objects will be sorted by their (X, Y) positions in the document, with the topmost, leftmost, rightmost, or bottommost object ending up on top of the layer stack depending on which sub-mode you choose.

Respect parent layers, or don’t.

The ‘respect parent layers’ checkbox gives users the option of whether or not to arrange layers all together, or only relative to other selected layers within the same parent layer. When this checkbox is checked, layers will only be arranged relative to other selected layers in the same parent layer. When unchecked, layers will be arranged relative to every selected layer. All layers will also move directly under the first object in the new layer order. If selected objects are scattered throughout multiple parent layers, this will cause them all to end up on the same parent layer.

Flip minor axis sorting.

This function flips the tiebreak sorting priority measurement to act in reverse. What does this mean? Let’s say you’re sorting a group of objects so that the top-most objects in the document are on top of the layer stack. However, all of the objects happen to occupy the exact same place in the Y direction, but occupy different places in the X direction. Randomill would have to resort to sorting objects in the X direction since the Y coordinate for each object is the same. By default, Randomill would prioritize objects on the left. Checking this options would make it so Randomill prioritizes objects on the right.

If the major axis between two compared objects is the same, Randomill sorts along the minor axis. This checkbox allows users to change the priority of the minor axis.

When would this function be used?

Let’s say you have a bunch of objects scattered in a random layer order, and you want a seamless color blend to go between these objects from top-to-bottom.

Because the color blend function in Randomill works by iterating over objects based on their layer order, you need to first sort these objects based on their Y position in the document.

You could simply select the ‘Top-most objects on top’ radio in the Randomill interface, execute the layer arrange function, and you’d then be ready to perform the color blend.