Cannot save freeform gradient to swatches in Illustrator - Bug?

[Andrea23141209dbp1]

I feel like I am crazy; I am able to save linear and radial gradients to the swatches panel in a document I am working on, but cannot save freeform gradients.  I can drag it onto the panel and a green plus sign appears, but then that ding and it will not save.

Is this a setting or something?  I unfortunately recently upgraded to Ai 2022 and I think that's when it stopped working.

Thanks!

[Peru Bob]

I've moved this from the Using the Community forum (which is the forum for issues using the forums) to the Illustrator forum so that proper help can be offered.

[tromboniator]

Freeform gradients are (still) weird animals, and can behave in unexpected ways.

Save your freeform gradients as graphic styles (Window menu > Graphic Styles) rather than as swatches.

Peter

[Ton Frederiks]

I like this idea Peter, just be careful that the style needs to be applied to objects that have a similar shape as the original.

[tromboniator]

You're absolutely right, Ton. Thanks for pointing this out. I did mention unexpected ways – The behavior seems to be more or less predictable, but it takes a bit of experimentation to be able to make the predictions. My experiments continue…

Peter

[Ton Frederiks]

They are indeed unpredictable. A partially finished feature.

[Andrea23141209dbp1]

Thank you both!

[tromboniator]

You're welcome!

[phosphoricc]

OMG, it works! Thank you so much, Peter!

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

You cannot save a freeform gradient to the swatches panel.

You can drag an object with a freeform gradient to the swatches panel, but it will become a pattern.

When you edit the pattern you will notice that the freeform gradient has turned into non-native art.

[Carol F Metzger]

Hi, Ton.
I saved a freeform as a graphic style, but cannot apply it to the object I want, the "cfm designs." What is possible? Perhaps I will try some kind of compound path.

[Ton Frederiks]

Freeform gradients are unreliable, you can try to use the text as a clipping mask.

[Carol F Metzger]

I made it a compound path and it worked, thanks. This freeform is very cool. Like a watercolor wash.

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear you've got it working.