Using new swatch in gradient tool

[Paula_...@adobeforums.com]

We have replaced the default CMYK startup file (in plugins folder) with a new file containing swatches. This worked fine and replaced the standard CMYK swatches with the new selection. However, I would now like to use the new swatch colours in a gradient. But this does not seem to be allowed. With the default colours, I could drag the colour into the gradient window. I see a 'no entry' sign when I try the same with the new colours. Can you suggest where I have gone wrong or if there is a work around.

Thank you in advance for your help.

FYI: Illustrator 10, Win98

[Bob...@adobeforums.com]

Paula,

Select your object. Open the Color Swatch library of your choice (including custom color library none patterned). Click on Gradient color tool and note the Gradient slider palette. Just drag the color from your swatch palette onto one of the boxes below the gradient slider bar (and you can make more boxes with a click under the Gradient slider bar). You'll see the + sign which means you can drop the color there. This will cause the color to be in that position on your object. Do the same with the other box, using color swatch of choice or even standard colors and so on for all the boxes you wish to have there in the gradient.

Bob

[Bob...@adobeforums.com]

Paula,

If you wish any custom palette to be retained for future defaults, then save it (OPEN) into the Plugin\ "Adobe Illustrator Startup_CMYK/RGB.ai" file. Then you should have it default opened each time you choose a New document.

Bob

[Paula_...@adobeforums.com]

Thanks Bob. If I try this then yes it does work. But I would like to be able to bring up the default swatch box (Windows, Swatches) and drag the colour from here rather than opening the swatch library. We've only had this problem since we replaced the default CMYK file with our own selection of swatches. Just wondering if you know if there is a correct procedure for changing the defaults.

Thanks, Paula

[Paula_...@adobeforums.com]

Hi Bob,

Just noticed that only black and white are colour swatches, all the others are pattern swatches. (I'm using the four buttons on the bootom of the swatch window to show me the differences [Show All Swatches, Show Colour Swatches, Show Gradient Swatches, Show Pattern Swatches]) Would this make a difference? None of the colours are gradient swatches. Should all the colour be listed in each?

Thanks,
Paula

[Paula_...@adobeforums.com]

Hi Bob,

This is what we did and the swatches are displayed in the default window but I am not allowed to drag these colours into the gradient window. I can only drag the colours from the swatch libraries. Do you have any suggestions for me?

Thanks again.

Paula

[Teri Pettit]

Paula,

Since gradient color stops must be solid colors, you can't drag a pattern swatch or a gradient swatch onto a gradient color stop, regardless of whether it comes from the default Swatch library or one you made yourself.

It sounds like what must have happened is that when you created your custom swatches, you did something like drag a colored rectangle from the artboard onto the Swatches palette, expecting to make a solid color swatch for that color, but instead creating a pattern swatch that just had nothing in it except a single solid rectangle. (Dragging any selection from the artboard onto the Swatches palette always creates a pattern swatch.)

To create a solid color swatch, what you have to do is one of the following:

A. Drag one of the colorwell indicators from the Color palette or the Toolbox onto the Swatches palette.

or

B. Click on the New Swatch button at the bottom of the Swatches palette. (It will make a new swatch corresponding to the current indicator in the toolbox.)

[Paula_...@adobeforums.com]

Thanks Teri. We deleted the existing pattern swatches and replaced them by dragging the colour swatch library from the colour library. These are now proper colour swatches rather than pattern swatches.