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I have a project that has a color. I want to use that color in a different project.

How do I copy a color from one project to another?

From what I've looked up, it seems like one has to do something that involves creating, managing, and importing custom color palettes between multiple projects. This seems way over the top for something so simple.

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Just copy an object from one Illustrator document and paste it into another document.

  • If the color was a swatch in the original document, a new swatch will be created for the color when you paste.
  • If the color was not a swatch in the original document, click the "New Swatch" icon at the bottom of the Swatch Panel to create a swatch of the color.

Hit DEL to delete the pasted object.

This reads as more complicated than it really is... if you utilize swatches, it's really a half second...

  • Copy Command/Ctrl+c
  • Switch window Command/Ctrl+~
  • Paste Command/Ctrl+p
  • Delete Del

It is also possible to load the swatches in any AI document into a Swatch Panel so the swatches are accessible without the actual original .ai file being open.

From the Swatch Panel Menu choose Open Swatch Library... > Other Library... navigate to any .ai file and select it. All swatches in the selected document will be loaded as a floating swatch panel.

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  • Thanks for the details. It turns out that the original document does not have swatches, so it's the somewhat more circuitous route of creating a "New Swatch" each time.
    – Library Seph
    Apr 21 at 22:58
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    @LibrarySeph You can make them swatches... Select all and hit the Color Group Icon at the bottom of the Swatch Panel. It'll create swatches for all non-gradient, non-pattern colors.
    – Scott
    Apr 21 at 22:59
  • @LibrarySeph realistically any color that you intend to be key component in your design should be a swatch. Maybe even a global swatch as it makes you more organized.
    – joojaa
    Apr 22 at 8:12
  • @joojaa I appreciate the concept for professional work. From an introductory teaching role... less so.
    – Library Seph
    Apr 22 at 19:38
  • @LibrarySeph whats so hard conceptually about writing down the colors you used. For introduction you should definitely teach the concept.
    – joojaa
    Apr 22 at 19:43

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