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HJMann42
Participant
Mar 1, 2012 9:37 PM UTC
Answered

How to change all specific colors to another color.

Can some one tell me how to change all colors in Illustrator to another color all at once.

I used to work in Freehand and you could select all, them go to a panel and have it change

all of one color to another in a layout.

Exp. You could change pms 356 to pms 410 without selecting each individually.

I can't find this feature in Illustrator CS4

Any help appreciated

HJMann42

    CHMprepressCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    Mar 2, 2012 9:15 AM UTC

    Is quit simple to do, like Kurt said.

    Go to Swatch panel, select pms 401 than cmd select pms 356 go to pulldown menu and select Merge Swatches.

    View reply

    16 replies

    Sanjeeva_Fernando0563
    Participant
    Jan 23, 2025 4:27 AM UTC

    First select an object that you want to change the colour

    then Application Menue Bar - Select - Same As

    Then change the colour.

    Watch this video to have a clear understanding: 
    https://youtu.be/dAtmROa0haw

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    Anshul_Saini
    Community Manager
    Anshul_SainiCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    Aug 7, 2023 6:10 PM UTC

    Hi Everyone,

     

    Starting with Illustrator v27.6 and later, you can use the magic of Generative Recolor and transform the hues/colors in your artwork with text prompts or sample themes.

     

     

     

    For a more in-depth understanding of Generative Recolor, I recommend checking out this comprehensive YouTube tutorial:

     

     

    Let us know if you have any more questions.

     

    Best,

    Anshul Saini

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      Schmidthppns
      Participant
      Mar 28, 2023 12:48 PM UTC

      2023:
      Select one object with the color. goto > select - same - fill color.

       

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      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      Mar 28, 2023 1:08 PM UTC
      quote

      2023:
      Select one object with the color. goto > select - same - fill color.

       


      By @Schmidthppns

       

      And what do you do with strokes? Or patterns? Or symbols?

       

      Since this questions particularly mentions Pantone colors, the correct answer is still valid. If you don't have spot or global swatches, then use "Recolor artwork"

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      WSP101
      Participant
      Apr 6, 2021 9:56 PM UTC

      Merge in the swatch panel is the way to go if creating swatches. And whichever is above the other is the color the other color becomes.

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      CHMprepressCorrect answer
      Inspiring
      Mar 2, 2012 9:15 AM UTC

      Is quit simple to do, like Kurt said.

      Go to Swatch panel, select pms 401 than cmd select pms 356 go to pulldown menu and select Merge Swatches.

      Translate
        Steve Fairbairn
        Steve Fairbairn
        Inspiring
        Mar 1, 2012 11:27 PM UTC

        First make a swatch of pms 410.

        Then select one item which is coloured with pms 356.

        Now Select > Same ... to select everything that is 356.

        Click on 410 swatch.

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          Vivsters Design
          Participant
          Jan 24, 2020 6:55 PM UTC

          Perfect! just what I wanted to select all of one colour and change it. Thanks

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          Kurt Gold
          Community Expert
          Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          Mar 1, 2012 9:53 PM UTC

          You may also take a look at the mechanisms in the Swatches palette.

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          HJMann42Author
          Participant
          Mar 2, 2012 12:15 AM UTC

          Thanks Monika and Kurt.

          Figured it out. But I couldn't get it to affect groups inside clipping masks. Basically had to completely

          disassamble the logo.

          Don't know why Illustrator has to make it so difficult. In Freehand it's simple: select the entire object, open

          a panel, a few clicks and bingo it's done. Even if things are grouped, groups within groups, pasted into another group....no problem.

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            Monika Gause
            Community Expert
            Monika GauseCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            Mar 2, 2012 9:03 AM UTC

            No, you don't have to disassemble anything. Live color works on different kinds of objects and in deeply nested groups and clipping masks.

            see http://www.vektorgarten.de/img/tut/groups-live-color.mov

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            Monika Gause
            Community Expert
            Monika GauseCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            Mar 1, 2012 9:41 PM UTC

            Edit > Edit colors > Recolor art

            see manual for details.

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