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Creating new layers automatically assigns random layer colors in the Layers Panel.

Is there any workaround for having new layers assigned the same color (e.g. Red)?

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just to clarify, why do you need the same color for all the layers ? what are you trying to do ? – Flavius Frantz Feb 1 '12 at 17:27

2 Answers

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Unfortunately, no.

You can highlight all layers then choose Options for Selection from the Layers Panel menu. Picking a color at that time will set all the highlighted layers to the same color.

The colors aren't random; they walk through the list of colors available. While the order of the list may have been arbitrarily picked by the developers, the colors are used in that order.

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up vote 2 down vote

You could cheat and duplicate an existing layer with the color you want, then delete its contents and rename it.

(My question is why you'd want all your layers the same color. The point of the colors is to help you tell them apart.)

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I agree, different colors has an advantage, but I think this advantage diminishes when you get too many different colors. To me, the main purpose of layer colors is for reviewing/grouping/sorting layers in the Layers Panel. As for the canvas, I think it's only confusing with more than one color, and most of the time (especially when starting out on a new project) I prefer seeing my path outlines represented in the same color, e.g. red. (It may be just me, though, hehe. It's one of those personal "things".) ;) – hced Feb 1 '12 at 18:14
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Sometimes a feature takes a little getting used to, but you'll find that there are more advantages than drawbacks to being able instantly differentiate which art is on which layer. The W key (to turn preview on and off) is your friend when things get a bit busy. I would find "all the same color" insanely confusing, personally, for the same reason I use different layers in the first place. – Alan Gilbertson♦ Feb 1 '12 at 20:35
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W key doesn't work in Illustrator.. that's an Indesign shortcut. W in illustrator will simply select the Blend Tool. Lord knows I really wish W did have the same functionality in AI as it does in INDD. :) – Scott Feb 1 '12 at 23:51
Duh... of course. I live too much in InDesign. Illustrator and Photoshop are my main plug-ins for ID. :) – Alan Gilbertson♦ Feb 3 '12 at 22:59

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