This Illustrator .jsx script creates a SVG inner shadow—something Adobe Illustrator doesn’t natively support. Instead of relying on appearance tricks that often break or rasterize on export, the script builds a real SVG filter from scratch and applies it as a Live SVG Filter.
The result is a clean, fully vector, export-safe inner shadow that actually works for SVG. It highlights a key limitation of Illustrator: it can display SVG filters, but it can’t create them—this script simply does what the UI can’t.
This highlights a major limitation in Illustrator:
Adobe can display SVG filters, but it cannot create them. The script fills that gap by doing what Illustrator’s UI doesn’t building SVG filter logic from scratch.
When you click Apply, the script:
- Generates a custom SVG filter using
<feOffset>,<feGaussianBlur>,<feComposite>, and<feFlood>. - Saves that filter as an
.svgfile directly to your Desktop. - Prompts Illustrator to import the SVG filter.
- Applies it as a Live SVG Filter to the selected object.
The result is a real, non-faked inner shadow that survives SVG export unlike Illustrator’s Appearance panel tricks, which usually rasterize or break on export innerShadow.
This script unlocks an SVG effect Illustrator was never designed to offer, making it especially valuable for web, UI, and icon designers who need accurate SVG output without rasterization or fake shadow tricks.
These visuals showcase a inner shadow effect applied to both shapes and typography clean, subtle, and fully vector-based. Unlike common Illustrator appearance tricks, this effect lives inside the object, creating depth without breaking scalability.
What makes it special?
This inner shadow is built using real SVG filter logic, meaning it stays intact on export and works perfectly for web, UI, and icon design. No rasterization, no fake overlays just precise, controllable depth.
Perfect for:
- UI & button design
- Modern typography
- SVG icons & web graphics
- Designers who want depth without losing vector purity
Sometimes the best effects are the ones Illustrator doesn’t officially give you—but scripting does.
