Darty-Ai is a powerful Adobe Illustrator extension that reinvents the variable data printing (VDP) workflow, replacing Illustrator’s outdated Variables panel with a faster, more flexible system for dynamic design.
Smarter Data Import & Reload
Import data directly from Excel or Google Sheets—no CSV conversion required. One-click reload makes it easy to update your artwork with new data instantly, solving common encoding and delimiter issues found in CSV-based workflows.
Tag-Based Binding, Not Illustrator-Bloating
Unlike Illustrator’s Variables, Darty-Ai uses a tagging system that keeps data binding external to the document. This enables lightweight multi-object tagging and eliminates panel clutter or sluggishness from multi-instance variables.
The native Variables panel in Illustrator becomes a bottleneck long before you reach complex use cases. Even a few hundred uniquely bound variables—without any duplication—can noticeably slow down your document and degrade Illustrator’s responsiveness. Just having variables present adds hidden overhead, making basic tasks like selecting or moving objects frustratingly laggy. This alone is enough to make serious variable-data workflows uncomfortable or impractical.
Darty-Ai avoids this entirely by removing data-binding from the Illustrator document. Instead, it uses an external tag system managed through its own streamlined interface. Tags don’t clutter the document or affect performance, no matter how many you use. This keeps your artwork clean, fast, and easy to iterate—freeing you to focus on design rather than wrestling with a bloated panel.
Advanced Text Replacement & Styling
Darty-Ai can:
- Replace entire text frames or specific phrases.
- Apply different fonts, sizes, and colors—all driven from your spreadsheet.
This opens up design possibilities far beyond Illustrator’s built-in “Text String” variables.
Full Illustrator Control, From Your Sheet
From toggling overprints to setting paragraph styles, Darty-Ai allows spreadsheets to control nearly every Illustrator feature:
- Fills, strokes, and effects
- Pathfinder commands
- Layer/Artboard management
- Dynamic procedural artwork creation
Smart Previews for Creative Freedom
Use the Preview feature to test data-driven artwork in a temporary “throwaway” document. Adjust designs, edit data, reload, and repeat—all without altering your source file. It’s a creativity-first workflow.
Powerful Exporting
Export in 8 formats (PDF, PNG, SVG, etc.), each with customizable settings:
- Dynamic filenames and output paths
- Password-protected PDFs
- Multiple export jobs with presets
Darty-Ai’s Export screen goes far beyond Illustrator’s Batch Actions or Export-for-Screens.
Workarounds for Graphs & More
While Illustrator’s Graph tool isn’t yet supported, Darty-Ai lets you build scalable “home-made” charts using smart shapes, stroke dashes, or alignment tools—all controlled via spreadsheet. Native graph support is planned for future releases.
Why Darty-Ai?
It replaces Illustrator’s outdated Variables with:
- Real spreadsheet integration
- Faster, cleaner workflows
- Far more control and creative flexibility
Whether you’re automating personalized art or running high-volume print jobs, Darty-Ai is designed to get out of your way and let your creativity flow.