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michaeld12523906
Participant
January 19, 2020
Question

Illustrator: Change color for a Library Object

  • January 19, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 2087 views

I have created a line drawing that I will be using on multiple documents. That drawing is now located in the Library panel and is fully functional. However, each separate document will most likely use the line drawing multiple times and I will need to recolor based on need. For example, Layer one will use 5 of the drawings in black, and then Layer 2 will also use 5, but they will need to be red instead of black. 

 

I could edit the linked file, but that will change them all to one color - not what I need. I have tried masking - didn't work and stroke/fill which also didn't work. What ideas do you have to change the color of a selected group of library artwork?

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    3 replies

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    Dominiek36621454u7cs
    Participant
    May 30, 2024

    Well, there is actually a sort of way to do it. You Make a rectangle the size of your object in the color you like, then in the opacity panel you add a mask and there you add the library object in the mask mode (best to work with a 100% white object, since it's a mask). Leave the mask mode again. Every time you change the color of your 'rectangle' the library object will have the color you chose. Not the simple way you would like to do it, but this is a way to keep the connection with your original library object and change the color. Without making multiple versions of it. Adobe should make this possible the simple way, just add a fill color above your content in the appearance panel. Are you reading this Adobe dev department?

      Ton Frederiks
      Community Expert
      Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      January 19, 2020

      You can make multiple versions in your CC library and relink them from the Links panel.

      Unfortunately only one by one.

      Mylenium
      Mylenium
      Legend
      January 19, 2020

      Well, you could just unlink/ expand the objects, so you're at leisure to do whatever you want? Seems like you are overthinking this and trying to over-optimize your workflow/ outsmart the library functionality. Sometimes good old manual setups work best.

       

      Mylenium

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