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Participant
March 1, 2012
Answered

How to change all specific colors to another color.

  • March 1, 2012
  • 8 replies
  • 311372 views

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

Correct answer CHMprepress

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.

8 replies

Participant
January 23, 2025

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

Anshul_Saini
Community Manager
Community Manager
August 7, 2023

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

Participant
March 28, 2023

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

 

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 28, 2023
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"

Participant
April 6, 2021

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.

CHMprepressCorrect answer
Inspiring
March 2, 2012

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.

Steve Fairbairn
Inspiring
March 1, 2012

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.

Participant
January 24, 2020

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

Kurt Gold
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 1, 2012

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

HJMann42Author
Participant
March 2, 2012

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.

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 2, 2012

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

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 1, 2012

Edit > Edit colors > Recolor art

see manual for details.