You can extend illustrator with free plugins and scripts. While there are options to enhance Adobe Illustrator’s functionality, The follow are free ways to enhance illustrator with plugins and scripts. Since Adobe Creative Cloud each new version of Illustrator comes packed with new features, but there are free ways to enhance and optimize illustrators functionality by using plugins and scripts.

Plugins

Astute Graphics offers free plug-ins as well as paid plugins to enhance adobe illustrator. You only need an email to download a valid license key.

AutoSavior

http://www.astutegraphics.com/software/autosaviourfree/

The ability to automatically save documents has been missing in Adobe Illustrator since it’s beginning. This free plug-in will save you so much time and frustration. Never again do you have to worry about losing your work.

Subscribe

http://www.astutegraphics.com/software/subscribe/

Subscribe is an incredibly useful tool with many features, among my favourite is the ability to create circles and arches from one point to another. Just click one point and another and a perfect circle appears between the two points. Another feature is the orient tool. Drag from one corner to another to the object completely straight and aligned vertically and horizontally.

DenimMaker

http://www.astutegraphics.com/denimaker/

DenimMaker is a new plug-in that lets you create vector textures. They plan to add more textures in the future but as for now you can create a denim like texture in any color (even gradients) and apply to any object.

Scripts

I have compiled a .zip download of the most useful scripts. I did not create any of these scripts. All scripts belong to their respective authors.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/srcygiq1lua5kc6/Scripts.zip?dl=0

CircleFill – tutorial – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF-dcRFQayQ – Fill any object with circles. You can control the colors by selecting a palette, and control the size and spacing of the circles.

– tutorial – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF-dcRFQayQ – Fill any object with circles. You can control the colors by selecting a palette, and control the size and spacing of the circles. Find And Replace Graphics – This script will let you replace selected graphics with another graphic. This can be used in conjunction with other scripts to achieve some really nice effects that would otherwise take a very long time to create. (Tutorial –http://vectorboom.com/load/tips/techniques/how_to_distribute_shapes_within_another_shape_in_illustrator/16-1-0-470)

Metaball – Allows you to connect various objects together with arches. Useful for logo design and 3D shapes.

– Allows you to connect various objects together with arches. Useful for logo design and 3D shapes. Random Select – Randomly select objects in an illustrator document. You can configure the percentage of objects to select. This can be used with other scripts to create awesome effects that would otherwise take a long time to complete.

– Randomly select objects in an illustrator document. You can configure the percentage of objects to select. This can be used with other scripts to create awesome effects that would otherwise take a long time to complete. Randomizer – Allows you randomize the size, opacity, location, and rotation of objects selected. This can be used with other scripts to create awesome effects that would otherwise take a long time to complete.

– Allows you randomize the size, opacity, location, and rotation of objects selected. This can be used with other scripts to create awesome effects that would otherwise take a long time to complete. Round Any Corner – Illustrator CC has a round corner tool already, but sometimes it’s glitchy. This tool functions the same way for previous versions of illustrator allowing you to round the point of any object.

How to install scripts

Scripts are very easy to install. Once you’ve downloaded the .zip file unzip it, and drag the contents of the folder to c/ program files/ adobe illustrator/ presets/ en_us/ scripts/ or c/ program files(x86)/ adobe illustrator/ presets/ en-us/ scripts/ depending on your computer.

For Mac the path is Applications > Adobe Illustrator X (Whatever Version you have) > Presets > En_US > Scripts. Just drag and drop the script files into the script folder.