263 results found

1. Color swatch mapping with presets for print production

   I made this script using ChatGPT, it does mostly everything I need, but I ran into the issue that the option "Merge Swatches" in the Swatches panel, cannot be used/accessed with JavaScript.

   I work as Prepress designer and I have to constantly change spot colors to match the swatches that the print operators need to match the colors the client need (Pantone match or paint swatches). Most of these colors are saved in an .ASE file and I have to manually merge them multiple times.

   I thought my script was going to fix this for me until I hit that wall.

   Can you guys make something like this that is reliable for the printing industry.

   I would really appreciate.

   Thanks!

   I made this script using ChatGPT, it does mostly everything I need, but I ran into the issue that the option "Merge Swatches" in the Swatches panel, cannot be used/accessed with JavaScript.

   I work as Prepress designer and I have to constantly change spot colors to match the swatches that the print operators need to match the colors the client need (Pantone match or paint swatches). Most of these colors are saved in an .ASE file and I have to manually merge them multiple times.

   I thought my script was going to fix this for me until I hit that… more

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   4 comments  ·  Colors, Swatches, Patterns  ·  Delete…  ·  Admin →
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2. Placeholder Spot Color Swatch Assigned in Illustrator Then Defined in InDesign (and other Adobe Apps - especially AE and Premier)

   This would be a joint effort between AI and INDD. But being able to assign a spot color swatch placeholder to a graphic like any other spot swatch (with tint support) that can then be assigned via the links panel in InDesign.

   Often I need to color coordinate graphics with a document I am building in InDesign. I typically do this by either generating multiple artboards or layers with the variations I need. But sometimes for one-off projects or projects where there may need to be many variations it just makes the AI file much more cumbersome to deal with.

   If I could assign a spot color in AI and then in INDD alter/adjust that color definition (ideally per instance but even just per link) that would be awesome. Then it would export and be read by Acrobat or other RIP software as if it was the spot color I assigned.

   Additionally this placeholder functionality should pass through when saved as an Illustrator native PDF (.ai.pdf files are so much more versatile in InDesign than .ai files)

   This would be a joint effort between AI and INDD. But being able to assign a spot color swatch placeholder to a graphic like any other spot swatch (with tint support) that can then be assigned via the links panel in InDesign.

   Often I need to color coordinate graphics with a document I am building in InDesign. I typically do this by either generating multiple artboards or layers with the variations I need. But sometimes for one-off projects or projects where there may need to be many variations it just makes the AI file much more cumbersome to deal with.

   … more

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3. Make Pattern Options work when stroke is selected in tool panel

   You can't open the pattern editor from swatches panel or from shortcut if stroke is selected in tools panel. I shot screen grab to demonstrate.

   I can see why it might be desired behaviour, but you can still select patterns to fill a selection, while stroke is selected in tools panel. so it doesn't seem to make sense.

   If fill is selected, you can enter the pattern editor for a selected swatch, from the swatches panel independent of pattern swatches in use or active in project. But if stroke is active/selected you can not.

   Uploaded unlisted full res screen capture here: https://youtu.be/NvywCEHGveg

   You can't open the pattern editor from swatches panel or from shortcut if stroke is selected in tools panel. I shot screen grab to demonstrate.

   I can see why it might be desired behaviour, but you can still select patterns to fill a selection, while stroke is selected in tools panel. so it doesn't seem to make sense.

   If fill is selected, you can enter the pattern editor for a selected swatch, from the swatches panel independent of pattern swatches in use or active in project. But if stroke is active/selected you can not.

   Uploaded unlisted full res screen capture… more

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4. Allow to set text format for CMYK values and other data in Swatch Info objects

   The data for CMYK values in cards inside of Swatch Info is formatted with commas.
   I’d like to have the ability to customize it: spaces, hyphens, as C100 M50 Y0 K0, etc.

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5. Allow to use custom user templates for Swatch Info objects

   Swatch Info is OK (if completed!), but there is not enough customization currently.
   Take a look what an awesome ColorList script by Katja Bjerrum offers: https://productivista.com/make-a-list-of-colors-from-your-selection/ — we can set our own shapes before making a color legend.
   We could have done it semi-automatically after creating a Swatch Info, with Global Edit, to replace all chips with a custom shape... but for some reason these rectangles are immune to Global Edit (as it often happens, new features get loosely integrated with existing functions...)

   This actually also includes text parameters, but perhaps it’s a separate request... Sure, the font is the one defined by the [Normal Paragraph style], but text formatting is not only the font family...

   Swatch Info is OK (if completed!), but there is not enough customization currently.
   Take a look what an awesome ColorList script by Katja Bjerrum offers: https://productivista.com/make-a-list-of-colors-from-your-selection/ — we can set our own shapes before making a color legend.
   We could have done it semi-automatically after creating a Swatch Info, with Global Edit, to replace all chips with a custom shape... but for some reason these rectangles are immune to Global Edit (as it often happens, new features get loosely integrated with existing functions...)

   This actually also includes text parameters, but perhaps it’s a separate request... Sure, the font is the… more

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6. Retain original, unexpanded art for pattern swatches.

   "This pattern contains active content (symbols, effects, etc, it's a long list) that must be expanded to create a swatch. If you edit the pattern again, the expanded content will no longer be active."

   There's a lot of clever, well-paid people at Adobe. I bet someone there can figure out how to store the original pattern art along with the expanded pattern art, and edit the former rather than the latter when I double-click on the pattern swatch. I have workarounds for this but they are tedious and annoying ones.

   Also I would like to thank whoever wrote the dialogue text I quoted, it would have been so easy to just say that the pattern contains Forbidden Art and leave me to figure out exactly what triggers the warning.

   "This pattern contains active content (symbols, effects, etc, it's a long list) that must be expanded to create a swatch. If you edit the pattern again, the expanded content will no longer be active."

   There's a lot of clever, well-paid people at Adobe. I bet someone there can figure out how to store the original pattern art along with the expanded pattern art, and edit the former rather than the latter when I double-click on the pattern swatch. I have workarounds for this but they are tedious and annoying ones.

   Also I would like to thank whoever wrote the dialogue… more

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7. A way to make a pattern's location match where it was originally created instead of aligning with the ruler origin

   I like to use large patterns to create effects like "rays centered on a focal point of the image" in my artwork. Or to work around the fact that clipping masks can't have complex appearance stacks. These sort of patterns work best when they are precisely aligned to the artwork.

   Currently the workflow to do this is as follows:

   1. Create some art to be a pattern that aligns with some important part of my drawing. Select it and do Object > Pattern > Create.
   2. Give it a name and close the pattern creation window.
   3. Make a large rectangle with this pattern, drag it around until it's aligned with the original. I have a script that helps with this in some cases but it doesn't work for every pattern.
   4. Create a Graphic Style to save this pattern-with-alignment.
   5. Create more patterns that need to align, do a super fiddly dance of cloning and editing that style to make new patterns that align properly.

   I would like it to be this:

   1. Create some art to be a pattern that aligns with some important part of my drawing. Select it and do Object > Pattern > Create.
   2. Give it a name. Turn on "pattern aligns with original art". Close the pattern creation window.
   3. Enjoy my magic swatch that contains a pattern precisely aligned with my art.
   4. Make some more patterns precisely aligned with my art. Use them as strokes or fills without any hassle.

   I would really love it if patterns stored their initial location on the art/pasteboard (which they sort of seem to do, they definitely have a consistent location on the pasteboard when I edit them but sometimes it's way off on an edge for reasons I have never figured out), and if there was a switch on the Pattern window to let me choose between "pattern tiles from ruler origin" and "pattern tiles from art origin".

   Attached: an example image that uses a lot of patterns. There's a bunch of fills and strokes in this that use very large patterns containing a large circle with a fat, dashed stroke.

   I like to use large patterns to create effects like "rays centered on a focal point of the image" in my artwork. Or to work around the fact that clipping masks can't have complex appearance stacks. These sort of patterns work best when they are precisely aligned to the artwork.

   Currently the workflow to do this is as follows:

   1. Create some art to be a pattern that aligns with some important part of my drawing. Select it and do Object > Pattern > Create.
   2. Give it a name and close the pattern creation window.
   3. Make a large rectangle with this… more

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8. Add more modifier keys for Control bar to show alternate color UI

   Currently the behavior of the Color UI in Properties is broken:
   http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447/suggestions/48691379

   Clicking the swatch drop down opens the different swatch color options.
   Please update with these shortcut key options:
   Shift + clicking the swatch drop down opens the Color Mixer options.
   Option + clicking the swatch drop down opens the gradient options.
   Command + clicking the swatch drop down opens the pattern options.

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9. Make it easy to colour pie charts using colour libraries.

   Unable to use the libraries colour menu to colour a pie chart. This is ridiculous. I had to make a separate box on the page and use the eyedropper to transfer the colour to the pie chart. Even the Eyedropper wouldn't work directly with the colour in the colour library and that is where all our brand colours are stored.

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10. Allow merging global and non-global colors

    Please make it possible to merge non-global swatches with global and vice versa. It would greatly help tidy up submissions for printing.

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11. Easily resize pattern

    Would love to be able to easily resize the patterns within forms.

    Right now I have to resize the object using the option "adapt the pattern" while doing the modifcation, and resize it back without the option.
    Or make a new, big pattern within the pattern swatch.

    What would be useful is not having to leave your illustration or change the shape you would like to change the pattern that is applied to.
    Maybe having a preview of your illustration with the changes you make on the pattern tab/window.

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12. A way to lock colors to prevent them from changing in Recolor dialog

    When recoloring art, it would be AWESOME to have a lock function next to the swatches. There is already a way to lock a swatch that you don't want to recolor, but it'd be nice if, as you cycle through the swatch/recolor options, you could lock or "freeze" ones you like and continue to recolor the unlocked swatches.

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13. Swatches panel easier cleanup/delete and Recolor Artwork tool

    • Have delete options for swatch library in drop down or drag/drop to trash.

    • Enable delete option in user defined menu to clean up old/saved swatches no longer needed and organize alphabetically or enable us to drag/drop folder within panels for easier regrouping.

    • Also allow swatches folders to drag/drop to other open windows/working open files.

    • Allow us to customize our main Swatch panel without having to delete the AI standard swatches every time (but not delete them either just customize or minimize/hide the preset colors).

    • Recolor tool: enable a way to select a recolor option (or tag multiple options during scrolling) without losing your place or having to restart/re-do the turning on and off of selected colors bars each time. Maybe be able to checkmark image options that it stores in side panel so you're able to go through the whole recolor options without start/stop/reopen/redo etc... then be able to work off your new/saved options. And PLEASE add a go back button to recolor.

    A lot of time is wasted in both issues. It's cluttering up my workspace and not user friendly to clean out my swatches and organize as needed.
    Recolor tool is a great function but slows down in the usage as to have to save a new image, you lose the original and to get back to continuing you have to restart the whole process, especially when choosing to not recolor some colors... having to redo all that is time consuming. Adding a 'back' button will also help all of us who click too fast and skip over a great color option and frustrated to not be able to go back.

    • Also don't freeze the screen when recolor panel opens. Sometimes you need to zoom in to see colors better or movie images around and not being able to have access to moving anything makes one have to start all over, or take extra time making sure your screen is the ideal size/layout before starting recolor. Or make the recolor a large window which puts the image inside the window for easier access to zoom, scroll and interact with image.

    • When you open recolor and use the magnifier to see where each color is located, I can't find a way to get out of that mode, unless I hit the recolor scroll which rearranges my color options. Make it so unclicking pops you back out to where you were wo changing image.

    • When reducing colors in Recolor window (as used in patterns often) it'd be nice for it to update the number of colors live. Currently we have to keep track in our minds, accept and close the window. Reselect image and reopen recolor to know how many colors we are now at. A live updated number would be great or an easier method than having to reselect/reopen just to see the new number. Or perhaps, add a numerical value to the sidebar swatch panel on the side of the recolor window, to show the live change in number of colors during combining/reducing of colors.

    • Have delete options for swatch library in drop down or drag/drop to trash.

    • Enable delete option in user defined menu to clean up old/saved swatches no longer needed and organize alphabetically or enable us to drag/drop folder within panels for easier regrouping.

    • Also allow swatches folders to drag/drop to other open windows/working open files.

    • Allow us to customize our main Swatch panel without having to delete the AI standard swatches every time (but not delete them either just customize or minimize/hide the preset colors).

    • Recolor tool: enable a way to select a recolor option (or tag multiple options during scrolling)… more

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14. Make an option to allow to transform (move / rotate / resize) a pattern within object without holding ` (backtick / grave / tilde) key

    Newly redundant options in Transform menu
    With the AI ver 27.5 update the "Transform Pattern Only" option does not work anymore in the Transform palette options menu.
    It used to be that the pattern would move interactively within its container if it was dragged or rotated. Now the whole object moves. My small business works exclusively on pattern design and this happens on both our machines. (Win 10 and Win 11. Both i7 with 32gb) RAM).

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15. Why can't I save Swatches in L*a*b* format except as Spot Color?

    Why can't I save Swatches in Lab* format except as Spot colors?
    This is unique to Adobe Illustrator, unfortunately, and such a thorn in the side of a device-independent color management workflow. Please resolve.

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16. Separations Preview should show colour values

    The Separations Preview panel doesn't show the colour values of each colour channel at the cursor location. This makes checking the total values of overprinted spot colours or taking colour-value readings from inside gradients impossible. As such, it's only half useful. If it works in InDesign, the expectation is that it works in Illustrator.

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17. Split color chips in Swatches diagonally, to simplify color picking

    Instead of the fill/stroke toggle, split each swatch diagonally. Top left is stroke, bottom right is fill. One click instead of (so frequently) two, and no more unintentionally filling when you meant to stroke..

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18. show swatch folders in recolor artwork panel

    In the recolor artwork panel when you double click the color on the right to determine what the color is being changed to, you can choose from swatches by then clicking on swatches. But, it's just a list of all of the swatches with no indication of which swatch folder the swatches are in. This makes recoloring difficult at times

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19. Color swatch import bug

    To illustrate the bug - I have a file named logo and a file named base. Both have swatches named PRIMARY and SECONDARY (see attached). As I place the logo into the base file - even as a preview - the PLACED file adopts the swatch colors of the base file. I literally need to do the opposite. I need the base file to adopt the swatches of the placed file. Needs to have an option to REPLACE swatches.

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20. Batch Import Swatches

    How about the ability to batch import swatches or gradients using csv or xml files? It would make it significantly easier to import colours from sources like ColorBrewer or matplotlib.

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