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Supernaut63
Inspiring
December 9, 2025
Answered

Can't remember how to get the old Pantone books back into the newest version of Illustrator...

  • December 9, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 423 views

Hey all,

 

Awhile back, when I upgraded my Illustrator, I found out that it no longer came with the Pantone colors. I dug around online for awhile to find the remedy, and was told you can either get a Pantone license or if you still have an old copy of Illustrator you can extract certain files from it and move it over into the new Illustrator. Well, I somehow found out how it was done and did just that, and "voila", I had my Pantone books back in Illustrator, albeit, they are older versions, but honestly, I'm okay with that, as the bulk of colors I use are still in the older books.

 

So, I just recently upgraded my Illustrator again, and guess what? It wiped my old Pantone books out again and I no longer have them...again. I do still have the old Illustrator version to retrieve them from, but can't remember how to do it now. Can someone here coach me where the old files can be found in my old computer backup and where I need to place them again?

 

Much appreciated!

Thanks!

Correct answer Ton Frederiks

In the same but older Illustrator Application folder > Presets > (your language folder) > Swatches > Color Books

If they are gone, you can still get them by installing the oldest Photoshop version that you can still install: 22.2

1 reply

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 9, 2025

You can put them in the Illustrator Application folder > Presets > (your language folder) > Swatches > Color Books

Supernaut63
Inspiring
December 9, 2025

Understood, but where do I find them in my old computer backup? What folder? I can't remember where they are located.

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Ton FrederiksCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
December 9, 2025

In the same but older Illustrator Application folder > Presets > (your language folder) > Swatches > Color Books

If they are gone, you can still get them by installing the oldest Photoshop version that you can still install: 22.2