adobe-execution

Adobe Execution Skill

RULE: Never place without measuring. Never declare done without looking.

Core Principle

Every element you create has a position. Every position is verifiable. You MUST verify positions after placement, not assume they are correct. The loop is: measure canvas -> plan positions -> place element -> verify position -> correct if wrong -> repeat -> visually review -> fix issues -> done.

Mental Model

Think of a canvas as a spatial budget. Before placing anything, you need to know:

1. Canvas dimensions -- How much space exists (width, height)
2. Existing elements -- What is already placed and where
3. Margins -- Safe zones from edges (proportional, not fixed)
4. Relationships -- How elements relate spatially (centered, stacked, grouped)

Every placement decision is a proportion of the canvas, not a magic number.

---

Rule 1: Measure Before You Place

Read the canvas dimensions and existing layer positions BEFORE creating any element.

Photoshop

WRONG:

create_single_line_text_layer({ text: "Title", position: { x: 100, y: 50 }, fontSize: 48 })
create_single_line_text_layer({ text: "Subtitle", position: { x: 100, y: 120 }, fontSize: 24 })
// Where did 100, 50 come from? What if the canvas is 400px wide? 4000px wide?

RIGHT:

// Step 1: Read canvas
get_document_info()
// Returns: { width: 1200, height: 800, ... }

// Step 2: Calculate proportional positions
// margin = width * 0.05 = 60px
// title_x = margin = 60
// title_y = height * 0.08 = 64
// subtitle_y = title_y + fontSize + (height * 0.02) = 64 + 48 + 16 = 128

// Step 3: Place with calculated values
create_single_line_text_layer({ text: "Title", position: { x: 60, y: 64 }, fontSize: 48 })
create_single_line_text_layer({ text: "Subtitle", position: { x: 60, y: 128 }, fontSize: 24 })

Illustrator

WRONG:

execute_extend_script({
  script: `
    var doc = app.activeDocument;
    var text = doc.textFrames.add();
    text.contents = "Title";
    text.position = [100, 700];
  `
})
// 100, 700 means nothing without knowing the artboard size