Eliminate repetition. Scale your production. I engineer custom plugins and specialized script suites that transform Adobe Illustrator into a high-speed automation engine. Whether you are managing hundreds of artboards or automating complex print preparation, I build the tools that put you back in control of your creative time.
Designed for Creators. Engineered for Power
With 15 years of hands-on design experience, I know exactly where Illustrator workflows break down. I transitioned into development because I needed better tools than the native software provided, and now I engineer those solutions for others.
As a coder, I specialize in writing robust ExtendScript tools to automate complex tasks, handle massive batch operations, and build custom UI panels that integrate seamlessly into your workspace. My focus is on creating smart, reliable code that removes manual repetition and scales with your professional production needs.
Development & Strategy
Custom Script & Plugin Development
I engineer ExtendScript solutions that handle the heavy lifting. From advanced batch processors to native custom UI panels, I build reliable, standalone utilities designed to save your team hundreds of hours a month.
Workflow Audits & Pipeline Automation
I analyze your current design process to identify the repetitive bottlenecks that slow you down. Then, I design and code a customized automation strategy to speed up your production pipeline, and eliminate human error at scale.
1-on-1 Scripting Coaching
If you want to learn how to script your own tools, I offer targeted training. We will cover Illustrator scripting logic, building functional dashboards, and optimizing your code so you can develop and maintain your own internal automation ecosystem.
Specialized Automation Solutions
Data-Driven Asset Generation
Stop building variations manually. I engineer scripts that generate hundreds of complex artboards instantly by pulling text, images, and layout logic directly from external CSV or JSON data sources.
Advanced Pre-Press & Export Logic
I build intelligent output systems that go far beyond Illustrator’s native export. Get custom logic that automatically calculates trim and bleed, generates dynamic file paths, and outputs perfectly spec’d files for professional print or digital handoffs.
Hardware & Third-Party Integrations
Your design files do not exist in a vacuum. I bridge Adobe Illustrator with your external databases, project management tools, or custom hardware setups (like Stream Deck & Companion) so your data flows across your entire workstation.
Featured Projects
Artboard Manager Pro Suite
The flagship automation toolkit for professional designers. A comprehensive suite designed to handle complex multi-page layouts with ease. Featuring intelligent renaming, batch exporting, and persistent UI panels that remember exactly where you left them.
More to be published soon :)
I am currently refactoring my private library of over 100 specialized scripts for public release.
This upcoming “Utility Pack” includes everything from automated grommet marks for large format print to generative geometry tools for organic shape creation
The Illustrator Automation Ecosystem
I maintain a massive archive of specialized scripts designed for high-stress production environments.
While many are proprietary tools built for specific studios, I am constantly refining these modules for the public gallery.
Production & Pre-Press Logic
- Trim & Bleed Manager Pro: Automatically generate crop marks and fold lines across 100+ artboards.
- The Slug Info Tag: Generate dynamic metadata strings outside the bleed area for print handoffs.
- Preflight Pro Scanner: A diagnostic dashboard that identifies RGB images or hairlines before you send to print.
- Ghost Hunter Utility: One-click hygiene to remove stray points and empty text frames from production files.
- Cutter Registration Logic: Specialized mark placement for vinyl plotters and legacy cutting workflows.
- Plus 30+ more Print Prep tools.
Workflow & Focus Management
- Type Commander Pro: Deep text management to find fonts inside nested groups or convert text objects globally.
- Cinema Focus Mode: A distraction-free toggle that masks everything outside your active artboard.
- Guides Manager Pro: A parametric generator that builds margins and 12-column grids as printable paths.
- Content Snapper: Instantly scale and center pasted content to fit perfectly within your fixed artboard bounds.
- Color Engine Pro: A utility to merge identical swatches and check WCAG contrast accessibility.
- Plus 25+ more Workflow Efficiency utilities.
High-Volume Export & Data
- Smart Exporter Suite: Bulk output for selection-only artboards or multi-format batches
- Data-Driven Artboard Creator: Input a CSV list to generate and name 50+ artboards based on client data.
- Legacy Version Exporter: Batch-save individual artboards as separate AI files with custom options.
- The Split & Tile Module: Effortlessly slice long landing pages or carousels into chunks based on pixel height.
- Versioning & File Informer: Persistent tracking of document states and version history within file metadata.
- Plus 20+ more Data Processing tools.
Ready to Automate Your Workflow ?
You didn’t become a designer to manage file names, calculate grids, and export variations manually.
If you have a massive design project, or if you need a specialized tool integrated into your production pipeline, I am here to engineer the solution.
Let’s talk about your custom build.
Max Mugen Lighting
Lighting Designer | Visual Artist | Automation Developer
I engineer lighting architectures, interactive control systems, and automation workflows for live performance and high-end studio pipelines. Available for custom system design and technical programming.
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