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Question

Global Colors copy then paste to new document even when an element doesn't use it.

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
November 29, 2021
3 replies
1076 views

I just noticed when choose a global color (Ex. Pantone Green) and it shows up in my swatches palette, but don't have it assigned to any element (a square), if I copy then paste that element (the square) into a new document, the global color is placed into my swatches palette. If I choose 'Select All Unused', it's selected and I can delete it.

Adobe tech support couldn't figure out what was going on and elevated the chat.

Here's some examples:

EXAMPLE 1: In doc-1, there are no color swatches, just black and white. I create a square with stroke=0 and fill=black. I copy/paste into doc-2, just the black and white are in the swatches. Go back to doc-1 and add Pantone Green but DON'T ASSIGN IT TO EITHER THE STROKE OR FILL. So the squares is still stroke=0 and fill-black. Copy/paste into doc-2 and Pantone Green shows up in swatches. Choose 'Select All Unused' and the Pantone Green is chosen.

EXAMPLE 2: Now go back to doc-1 and add another swatch (Pantone Purple). Don't assign either color to the black square. Copy/Paste into doc-3 and only thge Pantone Purple shows up in the swatches. It's the last Global Color that's added in doc-1 that gets pasted into a new document.

EXAMPLE 3: Now go back to doc-1 and delete Pantone Green. Copy/Paste into doc-4 and in the swatch palette you'll see 'Deleted Pantone Green' and the green swatch.

I can't make this up...

Anyone else having this issue? Just started today:

Mac Big Sur
AI - 25.4.1

Thanks!

Robert

Performance

This topic has been closed for replies.

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peregrine101Author

Known Participant

I heard back from Adobe tech support -- on a phone call. This time, I had no problems understanding them and she took the time to watch me perform the task causing the global color being transported to a new file even when it's not used.

When she did it after watching me, it didn't happen. What I observed her do differently than how I did things is where the issue comes into play:

If you followed the above examples, I 'CLICKED' on a global color swatch which brings it into the swatch pallete
What she did differently was 'DRAG' the global color swatch into the swatch pallete

So dragging 'only brings the color swatch into that specific file' while clicking the color for some reason brings it into the template. Or something like that.

So if you want to try it, create that black filled box and first click a global color (make sure the box doesn't associate with that color) copy/paste into a new file and the global color should come over too. Then do the same thing except drag a global color into the swatch pallete and do the copy/paste into a new file.

Strange, never noticed this issue before but at least, for now, that seems to be the reason.

Thanks for everyone's input and support on this one.

Wishing everyone a very healthy, safe and happy Holiday Season and a fantastic 2022!

Robert

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

Thanks for the update, I see that dragging does not result in the swatch coming over to a new document, but it should not make a difference, dragging or clicking. When an object is copied, only the color(s) of the object should be copied.

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peregrine101Author

Known Participant

YES! YES! YES!

I couldn't agree more! The tech said she's never seen that before either...but you are right. It shouldn't make a difference. And why is it only the last color you click that comes over and not all of them? So that is a bug!

And what happened before was when I copy/pasted a logo a client gave me that started this whole mess.

Thanks Ton for verifying this for me!

Met1

Legend

I appreciate that this is indeed a bug, but why is it a problem?

I'm not sure I understand why having an unused swatch in your doc is affecting your workflow...

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peregrine101Author

Known Participant

Good Morning Met1:

When developing some layouts, it's important that only the colors I use are in the swatches palette. My 'template' I use have eliminated all the colors that can show up in an original Illustrator file. I clear all the colors and only leave the None, Registration, White and Black. This way, as I bring in graphics from another file, I only have to deal with the colors that are actually being used.

I noticed this issue the other day when I brought over a logo file a client gave me into a new doc and noticed a Global Color swatch in the palette...but I couldn't 'see' that color in the actual graphic. In reality, it didn't exist in the logo but existed in the original artist's file. So I wasted time trying to color coordinate a color that didn't exist. And having to use 'Select All Unused' constantly wastes time.

Also, this can cause an issue when I send certain files to someone producing certain media for me. They don't have to wonder why they aren't cutting a specific spot color that shows up in a swatch pallette but can't find it in the file as a separation.

Finally, maybe it's just me, but I like to keep all my files as clean as possible. It makes work flows so much better, cleaner and in the end, faster...

Thanks!

Met1

Legend

Thanks, appreciate the explanation, always interesting to see other peoples work practices.

"They don't have to wonder why they aren't cutting a specific spot color that shows up in a swatch palette but can't find it in the file as a separation" - but who does this? they separate what is in the file, no one goes looking for unused spots, you are probably the only person they get files from that doesn't have a full swatch of unused colors, do they (I) worry about those? No.

"...having to use 'Select All Unused' constantly wastes time" - use an action or script with a shortcut key combo. I'm not sure if "Delete Unused Panel Items" action came default with Illy or someone here created it, but I use this at the end of art before sending to print (it has an assigned shortcut, it's muscle memory now, I don't remember doing it sometimes), it eliminates unused colors, graphic styles, symbols, brushes... clean. But if I do forget, what does it matter, it doesn't change the output one pixel.

I appreciate everyone's work flows are personal and individualized for that persons own comfort and therefore efficient for them, however I do feel you are just looking for more to do when it doesn't affect your files output. I get files that have a ridiculous number of spots, gradients, etc, sometimes a hundred hidden layers of preliminary art, but the print art is on just one, I don't have time to even consider them. (other than for RIP efficiency, but even then only the relevant data (i.e. what's being output) is processed).

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

I did some tests.

It is not new, I can replicate it in CC 2017.

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peregrine101Author

Known Participant

Sorry for the typos on the original post. I couldn't go back and re-edit...

Thanks for getting back so quickly Ton.

I've been using Illustrator ever since FreeHand got bought out by Adobe and TKO'd! But I've never seen this issue before today. It's quite frustrating.

Online chat said this is NOT a known issue...but hopefully they'll get back to me. If they do, I'll post what they say.

Thanks again!

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

It could very well be not a known issue.

I never noticed it until your post and I could verify it in every version (6) I have on my mac.

You may want to post a bug report here:

https://illustrator.uservoice.com

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