Double Swatches

Anybody else find that sometimes you get more than one instance of the same swatch in your swatches palette? I've tried merging, restarting Illustrator but they seem persistent.

You should not be able to get exact names, or else you get a warning:
Or if you try changing the color name within the docuemnt
You could have "PANTONE 123 C" & "PANTONE 123 C ", because of the difference in the space.
The only other way I know of you may have 2 exact names is more of a rare technical bug, if you have an old file and within older postsript tags(eg: "%AI5_Begin_NonPrinting") and import an image with the same name can cause that. A merge swatches should fix that. If the colors keep coming back you may have the HUH error with deleted global colors returning.
If the color is not merging, you may have a placed image with a channel with that name, or an item on a locked/hidden layer.

Similar Messages

Is there a way to create a swatch that defaults to overprint?

Our workflow at work is set up with 3 custom spot colors that I used to draw fold lines or label cover panels on customer's proofs. As long as I remember to set those guides to overprint in indesign they will not print when I send the files through our workflow.
However, sometimes I forget to check the overprint box, so i'm wondering if there is a way to set these swatches up just like the black swatch so they default to overprint?
Thank-you!

ghprintingdesigner wrote:... so i'm wondering if there is a way to set these swatches up just like the black swatch so they default to overprint?
You can't do this in the Swatches panel however you can create a way to aid your workflow using object styles.
Create a new object style for each type of line/fill you will use - Fold, Cut, Spot UV - and then just attach that object style to your line/fill. In the object style box, you can select to set the stroke or fill to overprint. You can then copy these object styles throughout your documents or just set up a template with these already in place.
You can then double check it worked by selecting your line/fill and opening up the Attributes panel to see if Overprint is selected.

AI CS3, mac, Pantone swatch greyed out, I can't change it

Hi all, normally when you double click on a pantone on the swatch panel, you can modify this pantone to process and the color mode as well, but in rare occasions you can't.. that options are grayed out..!
Any body knows why this happen and hot to fix it?
Unfortunately, I can't post pictures because websense restrictions here in my company about free host services, but I hope the message is well explained, and my english has no errors.
thanks for help

Ok, here are images of what I'm talking about, I hope somebody knows something about this "problem"
http://flickcabin.com/public/viewset/8276

Renaming a Swatch with a script

I was wondering if it is possible to rename a swatch with a script. In an open document I would like the script to run and do the following:
If swatch Pantone 032 is in the document change the swatch name to 032 (Red).
If swatch Pantone 577 is in the document change the swatch name to 577 (Drain).
I have a list of 35 swatches that if they are in the document I need them renamed.
Anyone offer some help?
Thanks to the community for offering support to guys that struggle with or have no background in coding!

I have done the exact same process as what you are looking for. I got this working:
var SW = app.activeDocument.swatches;
if (SW.length > 0) {
    for (i=0; i < SW.length; i++){
        changeName(SW[i]);
function changeName(swatchObject){
                if (swatchObject.name == "10 YELLOW"){
                    swatchObject.name = "10 yellow";
                if (swatchObject.name == "12 YELLOW"){
                    swatchObject.name = "12 yellow";
In this instance, it changed 10 YELLOW and 12 YELLOW to a lowercase name. You would need to go in and type in a conditional statement for each swatch you are wanting to rename.
When the script is ran, it doesnt appear to update the swatch name. However, if you double click on one of the swatches, the name that is showed will be the changed value, and when you hit cancle on that pop-up dialogue, all the others will switch to the new name.
Anybody know if there is a way to update the swatch palette within the script to show the new names automatically?

Custom Swatch Libraries color shift

I created a custom swatch library for my client in Illustrator. RGB values.
I loaded the library in a new document (RGB Color Mode) and filled an element with one of these loaded swatch colors.
When I double-clicked the color in the fill box, the RGB color values had shifted slightly. Why is this?
When I double-clicked the same color in the Swatch panel, the color values remained accurate.

It's a collection of logo versions. Some for web, some for print.
Sounds like I'd need the following Libraries (this is getting complicated and confusing--am I too far in the weeds on this or right where I should be?):
1. Pantones for Print.
Create a document with a Print Profile, set the document color mode to CMYK.
Open the Pantone+ Solid Coated Library, and bring in the given colors.
*Here's the thing though. Illustrator CC's Pantone values for RGB and CMYK don't match the RGB and CMYK values in Pantone+ Color Bridge Book exactly.
So what do I do? Also create a CMYK Library of CMYK equivalents that do match the Pantone+ Color Bridge Book? Because when Illustrator does the conversion, it's way off.
2. Pantones for Web.
Create a document with a Web Profile, set the document color mode to RGB.
Open the Pantone+ Solid Coated Library, and bring in the given colors.
Then also create an RGB Library of RGB equivalents that do match the Pantone+ Color Bridge Book?
This would total 4 Libraries. Pantones for Print. CMYK. Pantones for Web. RGB.

Illustrator CS4 Swatch Palette Issues

It seems as though the same issues that came with CS3 are now haunting me in CS4. Every time I close Illustrator my pantone swatch library disappears. This is causing a major issue being that every time I restart, close Illustrator or do an update my pantone colors vanish. Not very good for production or turn around time being that I have to do the following steps on every start: re-select the pantone color book/solid coated matte/turn on small list view/redock in swatch library palette/turn on persistent. I am wondering why Adobe would not have double checked this issue, being that there are many issues mentioned like this with CS3. Anyone else experiencing this, or know of a way to fix it? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!!!

That's funny it doesn't happen here and don' get this wrong but it seems odd that you have been working with CS 4 all this time and never brought this issue up before.
Of course you could be on windows and it could be a platform specific issue though it seems odd that all this time has passed and it is the first we are hearing about it.
This is what my CS4 looks like after I relaunch AI.

Illustrator - Pattern Swatch / Clipping mask issue

I'm currently working in Illustrator CS6. I'm creating pattern swatches and have successfully created 20 - but 4 are giving me the following issue.
When I drag the perfect swatch tile into swatches it appears as so instead of the perfect tile:
"New pattern swatch 3" has a white space on the right. Which sometimes when I create the swatch takes up half of the 'swatch.'
When I go to create a shape and apply the pattern, I am left with an empty box.
When I double click to adjust the pattern I get this dialog box:
When I go to adjust the bounding box, to see where my pattern is - this crazy mess happens:
Further investigation and deleting items to see whats happening:
Bits of my pattern appear, but not sure why the other bars are there.
I'm having this issue with four very different patterns. But I have also succesfully created more complicated ones. Not sure why this is happening.
Any help is greatly appreciated!

Hey everyone,
I am in the same version, same file. I have also tried starting from scratch in another file just to make sure. Same issue.
I have templates of what i want my patterns to be, so I have tried to make the patterns both ways. Starting from my original art - expanding all shapes and making them so they will tile perfectly.
1. with clipping mask. 2. released mask, and expanded shape. 3. perfect tile.
from scratch, made to tile perfectly.
Same issue for both:
To make sure it wasn't only this one I tried a different pattern that was giving me the same error before hand.
I tried with original art which didn't work, so I quickly recreated with squares. Same tile, one time it was empty producing same issue as above. And second time it did this:
1. What tile is supposed to look like 2. Tile applied to shape - but the pattern swatch icon is empty?
Maybe this is a program bug?

Color Swatches in Toolbar for Fill and Stroke are not working properly.

The color swatches in toolbar for fill and stroke are not functioning as they should. When I select an object on the artboard, the swatches display fine in the toolbar for what they should be. However, when I double-click on those swatches from within the toolbar to modify the color, the color which comes up is #000000 instead of the actual color it should be.
I am using 16.2.1 (cloud) for Mac OS 10.8.2
I've submitted a bug report, but want to know if anyone else has had this issue and what they did to resolve the issue.
Also, the eyedropper tool is buggy and occasionally places the #000000 into an object instead of the characteristics the eyedropper is selecting. I don't have any hidden layers or weird groupings, it just randomly decides when it is going to work or not.
I've never had these issues on previous versions of illustrator and have been proficient in all versions since 2007.

Double click the eyedropper, and turn on appearance, is off by default.
For your #000000 color problem that also likely is related to appearance setting. You may have for example have some with #000000 at the character level, and another color at the type level.

Modify tint swatch in Illustrator CS4

If you make a tint swatch in InDesign CS4, you can edit the percentage applied simply by double clicking the swatch and dragging the percentage slider at the bottom of the dialog box. How can I achieve the same results in Illustrator?
P.D.: Now, the only solution I found (very complex for such a simple task) is to use the various select options of the Selection menu to select the objects using the same tint percentage, modify it with the color panel and then saving another tint swatch.

Yes, tedious. I learned this when I first migrated from FreeHand.
The trick is to not bother making tint swatches (!) (I know, I know. A departure from custom. Of course, you can make them if you want, but they turn out to be superfluous.)
Instead, I color select objects with "unnamed" tints, and when I need to modify them, I use the magic wand with a very low tolerance to select the fills (pretty instantly) and strokes (pretty instantly) and adjust the slider accordingly. Because I've gotten so accustomed to this contortion, I've actually forgotten how much of a contortion it is compared to what you're accustomed to.
If someone knows a better way, have at it by all means please.

Color swatch ONLY shows gray shades on gradient layer...?

My color swatch seems to be defaulting to only shades of gray on a gradient layer, and I simply cannot figure out how to get it to change to the color I have selected. After I create a new gradient fill layer, when I have the layer selected in the list of layers on the right side of the screen, the color swatches show ONLY gray. If I click on the swatch, it brings up the color picker, but no matter what color I select, the swatch shows shades of gray. If I select the background layer, it goes back to showing my color.
There is probably a simple explanation to this problem but I have been searching Google for literally hours without finding an answer. Other similar questions I have found have the response of "Go to Image, Mode, and make sure RGB is selected." Mine is already set to RGB, so that's not the issue.
How do I change the colors of a gradient fill layer, and why does my color swatch show only gray shades when I have the gradient fill layer selected, even though clicking the swatch brings up the color picker?

To change/edit the gradient color(s), double click on the Gradient Fill thumbnail in the layers panel
Then in the Gradient Fill dialog, click just to the right of the word gradient to edit the colors
In the gradient editor, click on one of the color stops at the bottom of the gradient bar and click on Color to change the color of that stop
There is a lot more to the gradient editor than room to explain on the forum, so you might check out the following to learn more
Photoshop Elements Help | Gradients
Photoshop Help | Gradients
The reason your color keeps showing as grayscale, is the layer mask is always active with adjustments layers in photoshop elements and layer masks are grayscale
Photoshop Elements Help | Layer masks

Add a "Mixed Ink" swatch like in InDesign

The new separations palette in Illustrator CS4 is a strong move in the right direction for designers and print production, but having the ability to add a Multi-Ink to your swatches like you can in InDesign would be even better. As a printing company, we often do double hits of spot inks and CMYK mixes under spot inks for special effects. These are very easy to do using Mixed Inks in InDesign, but in Illustrator we have to duplicate objects and set them to overprint each other.
Also, an Ink Manager similar to InDesign would be great too.

I agree! It will also minimize the errors especially that there's a tendency to forget setting the overprint in the spot color.
There are lot of medical/scientific Journals that requires a lot of mixed ink swatches not only in the layout but also in individual artworks.
It opens the possibilities for creativity combining appearance palette, mixed ink swatches, and graphic styles.
I also noticed that novice users of Illustrators have apprehensions using the appearance palette. They'd rather duplicate the object and apply overprint which results to error-prone files.
Since this feature is already available in InDesign, I hope there should be little compatibility issue when linking the artwork in the layout even in lower versions of InDesign.
I hope that the Illustrator development team consider this small request...

Custom PMS ink swatch

My client uses a custom PMS ink mix. How can I make a spot color swatch in Illustrator that shows the color and client name?

Double click a swatch in the Swatches panel. Change its name. For Color Type choose Spot Color. For color mode choose a method that will be used for displaying the color on screen and when converted to Process color.

Duplicate swatch problem.

I work for a publishing company and we are running on Indesign CS. We print from Indesign and use Separations to make plates for our press. We print in red and blue ink, so we make red and blue plates.
Our problem is that we keep getting Blue 2, Blue 3, etc. swatches added to the swatch palette. We don't know what is causing this problem because the CMYK value for the Blue 2 is the exact same as the Blue we print from.
We use Ink Manager to make an alias as a work around, but we really want to know what causes these multiple instance of Blue to occur.
Thanks in advance.

I believe this JavaScript will work with CS. I use it often to merge down these kinds of duplicate swatches. I know for sure it works in CS2 and CS3.
//DESCRIPTION: Merge Down Swatch Dupes
    ©Copyright 2006 PDS Associates
    This script must not be distributed without first obtaining written permission of:
    Dave Saunders, proprietor
    PDS Associates
    P.O. Box 127
    Allenhurst, NJ 07711-0127
    e-mail: [email protected]
// Merges down duplicate swatches in either the active document
// or the application defaults.
if (app.documents.length > 0) {
myTarg = app.activeDocument;
} else {
myTarg = app;
var mySwatches = myTarg.swatches;
var myNames = mySwatches.everyItem().name;
myNames.sort();
for (var j = myNames.length - 1; j >= 0; j--) {
myParts = myNames[j].split(" ");
if (myParts.length == 1) { continue }
lastPart = myParts.pop();
if ((isNaN(lastPart)) && (lastPart != "copy")) { continue }
var mySwatch = myTarg.swatches.item(myParts.join(" "));
if (mySwatch == null) { continue }
mySwatches.item(myNames[j]).remove(mySwatch);
Discussion: there are two sources of duplicate swatches and two naming schemes.
If you bring into a document an item that uses named swatches that are present in
the document but with different definitions, new swatches are created with names
based on the original names with numbers appended after a space. This can result
in very large numbers of swatches being created (I personally experienced a situation
where importing a table resulted in over 8,500 swatches).
However, you can also load swatches from a .ase file or another InDesign document.
Swatches with conflicting names from the former are added with " copy" appended to
their names. If that name already exists, a number is also added.
This version of the script merges down either kind of duplicate to the original base
swatch (that is, the one with the base name in the original document).
To use the script in CS, copy and paste to a text editor and save as a plain text file with an appropriate name in the form YourName.js in the Scripts folder of the Presets folder of your InDesign CS folder (you could put it in a subfolder if you wish). Then to run the script, double-click its name in the Scripts palette.
Dave

Change swatch color inside swatch dialog box

In other words, say you have a PMS 485 swatch loaded in your palette and you want to change that swatch to PMS 286, it would be nice if you could double click on the 485 swatch and change the color from a drop-down menu, etc.

I've always done this with a Pantone colour guide at hand.
So if you've got a swatch of Pantone 485 (CMYK=0.97.100.0), just double-click on the swatch to get the CMYK reading Alter the name to Pantone 286 and alter the CMYK values to 100.66.0.2. Then everything that was red 485 will change to blue 286.
It's best not to import a new swatch of 286 while you have 485 running - if you do you will have to use Select Same Fill and Select Same Stroke and alter the colours from one swatch to the other with the accompanying danger of missing something.

Edit Existing Swatch?

Hi. Yes, I did a search in Illustrator support for Edit Existing Swatch... But apparently that is far to eclectic an inquiry to bring up instructions on how to do so.
Can anyone tell me the steps to do so? (I do it ALL THE TIME in Flash, but Illustrator aparently likes for me to visit the support site.)
Sigh.

First, let me say thanks for the posts. I really appreciate it.
I'm getting a Swatch Options window when I double click (I was trying that already) but it's greyed out.
Normally, in flash all kinds of panels pop up. Like gradation panels (if appropriate) etc.
Here's the window. (I'm on a Mac.)

Double Swatches

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