Create Swatch Library

Is there a program available that allows me to create a swatch library within illustrator based on my printing profile?
I am looking to build a library of the solid coated pantone library to my printing profile and load it into illustrator.

I understand what you want to do but it actually does not make sense. the colors of pantone have to be constant. That means they are device independent if you profile your document to match your printer that would be a better way of going about this after all if the document had a different profile say then the colors in the swatches then what would be the purpose of setting you document to a profile?
And many of the colors in most of the Pantone Libraries are spot colors which cannot be profiled any way since the color comes from actually mixing ink rathe than from printing intent.
You need to read about printing and profiling in order to understand that even if this could be done you would not want to do so.

Similar Messages

Indesign Pantone Issue (cannot create swatch library)

Help please.
I know this topic has been discussed (Pat Davis - 04:31pm May 28, 2008) but there didn't appear to be a solution. I'm running 10.4.11 on a Power Mac G4. Indesign CS2 has decided to give me the message "Cannot create swatch library. There are no swatches in the file...Presets: Swatch Libraries." The swatches are there! This has been going on for the last couple of days. I can create colours eg cmyk or rgb but not use and Pantone swatches. Anybody have any ideas.
Cheers Pam

Also update to 10.4.11
10.4.1 had many issues none of which were good.
Also make sure you are fully updated for CS.
after you are updated choose new swatch in the swatch pallet and choose pantone solid in the color mode pulldown.

How to create a swatch library from multiple png files?

Illustrator CC
I am having a difficult time trying to create a new swatch libray of patterns from multiple png files. The way I am doing this is very slow and repetitive and seems silly for a tool as advanced as the latest CC suite including illustrator.
What it seems I must do is open all the png files in Illustrator, creating multiple workspaces, drag one png file into the swatch window, then save that window as a library, close the existing window to reveal the next png file, open the user library I just created, drag the next image into the currently active swatch window, then drag the previous swatch/s from the user library into the current active swatch window, resave and replace the user defined swatch library (now with two images in there)fromthe updated current active swatch panel/window, close the existing workspace to reveal the next image file, and then repeat the process again, slowly building the user defined swatch library up by adding one image at a time and then adding back into the Swatch panel the previously built up library of swatches again one at at time. (you can select all from the existing user defined library and drag over into swatch panel, but this creates at least one duplicate on each cycle for as soon as you click on the first swatch in the library, it adds itto the current swatch panel and then when you select all swatches to drag across it includes the first swatch and copies it again)
This is a very slow process to build up a swatch library. For some reason you cannot drag swatches directly into the user defined library you have created, only into the active swatch window for each workspace. I searched the web and forums for answers but could find none. There must be an easier way, just can't find it.
Ideally, the best option would be a swatch window option that allows the import directly from a list of selected files in the finder.
Any ideas out there?

Monika,
Thank you for responding, however I am not exactly clear on what you mean by "libraries are plain AI files". For example, I cannot find a file with the same name as my user defined library name that I have created. I can find the preinstalled swatches listed under Adobe Application Support... Library... Swatches, but a user defined folder is not present and the library sets that I have already created are not visible. I have tried searcing my Mac for a (name).ase file and still no luck (at least for the name I was looking for). I can open the user defined library from the Swatch library icon on the bottom left of the Swatch panel, but when I open this I cannot drag and drop add new swatches directly to this library. As stated above, I have to add each pattern, one at at time to the normal swatch panel, then add back the previous ones I have saved from the user defined library to the swatch panel and then save threm all as an updated user defined library. Thus by repeating this process, it builds up the user defined library one at a time.
I am using Illustrator CC if this makes a difference.

How do I select a set of swatches (ideally at once) from a long list to create a swatch library?

I just started using PS (CS6) and I added 10 new custom swatches that I want to save in a new swatch library. However, I still have the PS default library of swatches listed (that contains scores of colors). Can I select multiple swatches at once to save them for the swatch library? Or do I need to delete ALL the default swatches first manually, then save the remaining colors in the new swatch library? If so, it makes it a daunting task...

I watched a tutorial on the Preset Manager and was able to finally select multiple swatches to create a swatch library by using the [Shift] key while selecting.
One of the problems was that the swatches were displaying as small thumbnails and it was difficult for me to see each swatch selected (plus, the outline of the selections were blue, and many of the colors I selected were blue).
What also through me off was that when you display swatches in a pane (say, when working on an image), one of the dropdown options is "Save Swatches", which I thought allowed you to save swatches in a library (not just an individual swatch).
Without the tutorial, I don't think I would have been able to figure out the right steps! Thanks for the tips, guys.

Creating a CMYK/RGB/HEX/PMS Swatch Library

I'm trying to create a Swatch Library with all of the above mentioned colour spaces.
But when I'm trying to create a CMYK swatch in an RGB document colour mode, after I create the swatch (95/95/25/10) and add it to the swatch library when I click on the swatch it opens the swatch in the RGB mode or when I switch it over to CMYK, the colour has shifted (to say 94.67/93.3/24.9/9.75).
I would ideally like to have all of these colour spaces in one library, instead of having to create 2 different libraries: One a 'print' version and the other a 'digital'?

A swatch library will be either CMYK or RGB depending on the document color mode you create it in.

I would like to create the a swatch, add it to the library and import to the swatch panel. The help pages available relate to earlier versions of Muse, which does not work with the 2014.2 release version that I have. I have created a library folder, imp

I would like to create the a swatch, add it to the library and import to the swatch panel. The help pages available relate to earlier versions of Muse, which does not work with the 2014.2 release version that I have. I have created a library folder, imported the colour swatch as just 4 colours as a mulib file. I drag the four colours on to the muse page in design view but that is as far as I get. Can anyone help? Thanks

I don't know since I don't share anything. You'll have to peruse the help files and check the permissions and ACLs on the Shared folder. According to the permissions on the Shared folder everyone can R&W. If you want those to be inherited by everything dropped into the folder, add an ACL for
everyone allow read, write
Details in the manpage for chmod. The actual steps are left as an exercise.

Edit custom swatch library

Hi All,
This may be a stupid question:
Once I have created and saved a custom swatch library - lets call it "custom"
How would I add a new colour to "custom" - or edit a colour value in "custom" - is this new swatch library locked?
Most frustrating.
Thank you

open the library file, just through File > Open. add a swatch to the document. save the document swatches as swatch library

Change Default Swatch Library

I created a swatch library in InDesign that I'm going to send to multiple computers and access there. Is there a way to make my swatch library the default library that comes up when I open a new document? I tried loading it and then saving my workspace, but when I open a new document, the default swatch palette is there. I haven't found any options yet. Could someone help? Thanks!
I'm using InDesign CS2 on a PC.

Load the swatches with nothing open, then close InDesign. Swatches are saved as part of the preferences, not as part of a workspace.
For the location of preference files in Windows, see the comments on this page: http://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/InDesign/5.0/help.html?content=WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751 001ea8cb3f-6d1e.html
Another option would be to export the swatches as an Adobe Swatch Exchange (ASE) file, although this option does not support all swatch types. The advantage of the ASE file is it can be loaded into Illustrator of Photoshop as well.
Peter

Can't save swatch library in ID 5.5

Hi,
I've just spent a half hour creating a new swatch palette of our company colors. I want to save them all out as a swatch library file. But, the "save as" pulldown choice is grayed out. Why? I know I've used this function before.
Thanks,
Peter

Hi again,
I've just tested it, and found that once you save your swatches from InDesign, you need to move the resulting ASE file to the Illustrator>Presets>Swatches folder, and then open Illustrator. Once there, go to Swatches Panel, and in the options pull-down, you'll now see your custom library in the list, without having to search for it. It doesn't behave quite the same as a swatch book file, but you'll easy access to it from the pull-down menu.
Cheers!
Mikey
Just checked again. And it indeed DOES open automatically, but you have to restart Illustrator first. If this works, then just check this message as solved.
Cheers again!
Mikey

How do I delete a color swatch library in photoshop?

Hi I created a color swatch library which I want to delete since I don't use it. Anyone who knows how to do this? I tried Preset Manager but that doesn't give me any options.

You would first select the library and then select Delete Library in the Panel menu. I think that's what you want.

Convert CSV to Swatch Library?

Hi everyone
I have a list of 300+ colors that I need to make into a swatch library for Illustrator. The data looks like this:
GREEN GRASS,127,187,0
PALE YELLOW,241,235,135
LIGHT YELLOW,238,231,93
DAFFODIL,249,231,21
MOONBEAM,249,223,22
etc.
It's RGB I think. In any case, I am just starting with Illustrator and I know NOTHING about scripting. Can anyone help me get aaaaalllll these colors into a swatch library, please? I am getting a migraine just thinking about putting them in one by one. LOL
I found something here, but that didn't work for me. I get an error on processing on line 75. http://forums.adobe.com/message/2877951
Error 24: app.doScript is not a function, Line 75 _> app.dpScript(speakThis, 1095978087); //AppleScript.
I get as far as choosing the csv file, and then I get the error. I think this outputs as CMYK, but not sure. Does anyone know of another script, or can anyone help me out?
Thanks,
Gina

Muppet's script was for InDesign -- I guess so it could save the swatches as an .ASE file. Illustrator's Javascript lacks this command ...
Here is a variant, based upon MM's, but stripped of all ID specific stuff. This one creates your new swatches in the current document; it creates a new swatch group with the CSV file name.
function main() {
     if (isOSX()) {
          var csvFile = File.openDialog('Select a CSV File', function (f) { return (f instanceof Folder) || f.name.match(/\.csv$/i);} );
     } else {
          var csvFile = File.openDialog('Select a CSV File','comma-separated-values(*.csv):*.csv;');
     if (csvFile != null) {
          fileArray = readInCSV(csvFile);
          var columns = fileArray[0].length;
          //alert('CSV file has ' + columns + ' columns…');
          var rows = fileArray.length;
          //alert('CSV file has ' + rows + ' rows…');
          if (columns == 4 && rows > 0) {
               exchangeSwatches(csvFile);
          } else {
               var mess = 'Incorrect CSV File?';
               isOSX ? saySomething(mess) : alert(mess);
     } else {
          var mess = 'Ooops!!!';
          isOSX ? saySomething(mess) : alert(mess);
main();
function exchangeSwatches(csvFile) {
//    var docRef = app.documents.add();
     var docRef = app.activeDocuments;
     var swatchgroup = docRef.swatchGroups.add();
     swatchgroup.name = csvFile.name;
     with (docRef) {
        /* for (var i = swatches.length-1; i >= 0; i--) {
               swatches[i].remove();
          for (var a = 0; a < fileArray.length; a++) {
               var n = fileArray[a][0]; // First Column is name
               if (n == 'Cyan' || n == 'Magenta' || n == 'Yellow' || n == 'Black') {
                    n = n + '-???'; // Reserved swatch name;
               r = parseFloat(fileArray[a][1]); // Second Column is Red
               g = parseFloat(fileArray[a][2]); // Third Column is Green
               b = parseFloat(fileArray[a][3]); // Forth Column is Bloo
               if (r >= 0 && r <= 255 && g >= 0 && g <= 255 && b >= 0 && b <= 255) {
                 var color = new RGBColor;
                 color.red = r;
                 color.green = g;
                 color.blue = b;
                 var swatch = swatches.add();
                 swatch.name = n;
                 swatch.color = color;
                 swatchgroup.addSwatch(swatch);
               } else {
                    var mess = 'Color values are out of range?';
                    isOSX ? saySomething(mess) : alert(mess);
function readInCSV(fileObj) {
     var fileArray = new Array();
     fileObj.open('r');
     fileObj.seek(0, 0);
     while(!fileObj.eof) {
          var thisLine = fileObj.readln();
          var csvArray = thisLine.split(',');
          fileArray.push(csvArray);
     fileObj.close();
     return fileArray;
function saySomething(stringObj) {
     var speakThis = 'I say, "' + stringObj + '"';
     alert(speakThis);
function isOSX() {
return $.os.match(/Macintosh/i);

Cs6, mac, gradients iconsistent colour using swatch library

Hi all
Wondering if you can help?
Using Mac 10.6.8 and Ilustrator CS6.
I'm drawing up some items [300] that are coloured in 1 of 10 gradients.
On the first two drawings I had the 10 swatches and then selected the 'Save swatch library as AI...' command from the swatches file.
On the next drawings I loaded this swatch library and coloured up the rest of the drawings, using some of the 10 colours.
Now, when I look through the illustrations, there are some colour differences on various files. In the swatch palette there are multiple versions of my original swatch colours with numbers on the end... I did not create these ... i.e. 'Red Gradient 2', 'Red Gradient 3'
Where did these come from?
When checking the gradients, they are indeed slightly different colours... HOW? they were all from the same swatch library?
The black gradient is also the same, it's not the same colour and there are 2 & 3 names derivatives.
All files are RGB colour mode, and have ADOBE RGB 1998 colour profile attached.
Any advice appreciated.
GS

@Michael – I second that!
On with my example shown in #2:
There is a hidden feature in the Gradient Panel:
With a right-click in the "red area" I marked in the following screen shot, you can add a new gradient swatch to the swatches panel:
That will not work in other areas of that panel…
Uwe

Create shared library on external drive from scratch

I have seen many posts about creating shared iTunes libraries on external drives with many different configurations, but mostly with pre-existing libraries. My question is creating the library from scratch. The purpose is obviously to share songs among several computers AND only have one copy of a song as to not take up unnecessary disk space on several computers.
All of our songs are on an external USB hard-drive attached to Airport Xtreme. Every song is in album folder, and every album folder is in an artist folder (very organized). All the artist folders (with their album and then song contents) are in a root folder called "Songs" on the external hard-drive.
We have upgraded our three Macs (iMac, MBP and MacMini) to Leopard and deleted all iTunes folders on each local hard drive (there was nothing in them anyway). We now want to create ONE iTunes folder on the hard drive so that each computer can access it. What are the steps? Here is what I "think" I've learned here on the postings with my questions:
1) First I opened iTunes on my first, main computer (iMac) and went into "Preferences" to change the iTunes music folder to [Ext HD]:iTunes:iTunes Music. The option, "Copy to music folder..." is deselected. (This will also be done on the other computers).
2) Now what to do? I could just move all of my song artist folders with their album subfolders and music files inside them, into the "iTunes Music" folder. But then what do I click to get iTunes to see all the songs and put them in its database? The other option is click "Add to Library" - but then don't I have to select all the individual songs? (I actually tried the latter method and it kept crashing). Can I just move all the folders into [Ext HD}:iTunes:iTunes Music folder and click something to get it to create its database based on all the music files that are now in its subfolders?
3) Next step. I have seen many people write that they then create an "Alias" and put the Alias in their "Music" folder on their LOCAL, computer's hard drive. Could someone now explicitly, step-by-step, describe how this is done? I assume I go to the external hard drive. Am I creating an alias of the entire "iTunes" folder, or of the "iTunes Music" subfolder, or of the library file??? Please answer this specifically.
So now I have "XXX alias" that I copy to my local, computer's hard drive and put it on my desktop. I take out the "....alias" word, and drag it to my local "Music" folder. It asks me to replace the existing folder/file, and I say yes. Correct? And then I do this on all three computers, correct?
4) Finally, after I've done all of this, I still have the following functionality questions -
4a) When we now add to the library, either from a CD or online purchase, ONE copy of the music should go in the "iTunes Music" folder on the external drive, correct?
4b) This system means that all three computers MUST have the same iTunes library, playlists, etc, correct? The downside of this system is that you cannot personalize libraries for each computer and just share the actual music files, correct? (If so, is there another process [steps 1-4 above] that results in a more customizable system where *ONLY ONE COPY* of the actual song file is shared?)
Sorry for the length of the message, and the questions. Truly I have read all the postings but was unable to map out my plan before I go and creating, finally, this one set of music that we can share. In advance, thank you all for your help.

I was afraid you'd say that, because I'm a long time Mac guy and I don't have the perfect answer. Have you ever messed with remote desktop? That'd seem to give her full access and control, something I personally wouldn't do, although it may work for you.
Another thought came to me that might work: copy over the complete library to her machine, and then when you do another major shoot, create a new catalog, edit, etc.and then import as catalog to you main one while sending her the new one.
I am sure there are more elegant solutions, but these are a couple of ways.

Is there a way to create a library of playlists in iTunes

I have recently created a number of video playlists and I'm wondering if there is a way of creating a library of these playlists.Secondly is there way of adjusting the brightness of videos without downloading third party software.

Playlists in iTunes are stored in the main database iTunes Library.itl. They don't exist as a separate class of files. You can use File > Library > Export Playlist... to export individual playlists in various formats. These could be imported into another library if all of the required files of the playlist were on the same paths. In general however there is no need to export and reimport playlists to iTunes. Simply Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy so that the entire library, or any individual files, can be restored if needed.
tt2

Custom swatch library isn't updating in CC

I have a big custom swatch library that I'm continually making additions and corrections to. I have it set as persistent, and the library works fine, but it doesn't update when I make changes to it. As far as I can tell, it's still stuck at the point where I upgraded to CC a few months ago. I've tried unchecking persistent, closing the library and Illustrator, then reopening and reinstalling the library, and it's still reverting to the old version.
Anyone else having this problem?
I've just upgraded to 17.1 on a Windows 7 Pro machine.

Hi OuraySportswear,
Do you have this library file outside of presets folder? Currently this feature sync these libraries from presets folder only.
Sanjay.

Create Swatch Library

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