Colors & Color Swatches

Introduction to Color Swatches

Before we talk about colors in Adobe Illustrator, I highly recommend checking out Section 4 – Chapter 1 in the Adobe Photoshop course to understand more about colors and color theory. It's a very important topic in the art world.

• The Color Swatches panel can be accessed via Window > Swatches or through the fill and stroke options when an object is selected;
• Swatches can be displayed in different views (list or thumbnail) and resized for better visibility;
• You can change the color of an object by selecting it and choosing a swatch from the panel;
• Custom swatches can be created by selecting an object, clicking the plus icon in the swatches panel, naming it, and setting it as a process color (CMYK or RGB);
• Process colors are based on either the four-color CMYK process for print or RGB channels for digital;
• Global color swatches automatically update all objects that share the same color when the swatch is edited;
• When a global swatch is applied to multiple objects, changing the swatch will update the color on all objects at once. If the global swatch option is unchecked, only the selected object's color will change;
• Global color swatches save time, particularly when working on illustrations with consistent color palettes, allowing for quick color changes across multiple elements in a document.

Managing Swatches

• Swatches can be created and manipulated easily within the panel. To delete a color swatch, select it in the Swatches panel and click the trash icon at the bottom;
• Color groups are like folders that organize swatches into categories. You can create a new color group by clicking the folder icon and giving it a name;
• Swatches can be dragged and dropped into a color group, making organization easier;
• You can delete entire color groups or multiple swatches at once by selecting them and clicking the trash icon;
• Swatch libraries can be imported or shared with collaborators by going to Open Swatch Library under the hamburger menu. Adobe Illustrator provides default swatch libraries (e.g., brights, neutrals, etc.), or you can import custom libraries from external sources;
• To export swatches, go to the hamburger menu, select Save Swatch Library as ASE (Adobe Swatch Exchange) to share them as a single file with collaborators;
• You can also save swatches as an Illustrator document for continued work with other artists.

Process vs. Spot Color Swatches

• A white triangle in the corner of a swatch means it's a global color;
• If the global color doesn't apply uniformly to all objects, use the eyedropper tool to apply the color consistently;
• Process colors: mix colors digitally (e.g., CMYK or RGB) before printing. These are used for standard printing where colors are mixed via ink channels;
• Spot colors: mixed in real life before digital use. A specific color is pre-mixed using pigments, often tied to specific codes like Pantone. Pantone provides color guides, with each color assigned a unique code for accurate reproduction in printing;
• Pantone's unique color-matching system ensures consistent color reproduction but is no longer free with Adobe products due to licensing changes;
• FREETONE, created by an independent artist, offers a free alternative to Pantone with 1280 colors;
• Spot colors in FREETONE are global by default and are marked with a triangle and dot.

Useful Links

• Here's a link to Stuart Semple's FREETONE: FREETONE.
• To know more about Pantone and Process Color Guides, check out this video: Pantone and Process Color Guides.
• For awesome color palettes, explore Adobe Color through this link: Adobe Color.