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Participant
November 7, 2025
Question

Illustrator Swatch Palette always on RGB

  • November 7, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 111 views

Hi there,

Recently my illustrator swatch palette is always set to RGB even when the document is set up in CMYK. As I mostly design for print this is really frustrating. Can anyone tell me how I swap the swatched back to CMYK values?

Thanks

2 replies

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 7, 2025

I think you have created a CMYK document based on an RGB preset. It will show a warning sign which can easily be ignored.

Once you have done that, Illustrator will suggest that recent document for new documents and it does not warn you anymore.

To create CMYK documents with the default CMYK swatches, create new ones based on a Print preset.

Participant
November 7, 2025

Yes! Your were right, thank you 🙂

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 7, 2025

Good to hear that helped.

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 7, 2025

As far as I can see it remembers the last setting. If you change it to CMYK it will be CMYK next time.

I misread your problem. See below for a (possible) better answer.