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Inspiring
August 9, 2022
Answered

Changing color via Hex doesn't count as an action, so save does not update file

  • August 9, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 1104 views

with an Illustrator file open, if you change the color of a piece of artwork via typing (or pasting) a Hex color number in the color palette, it doesn't count that change as a "change" so if you hit save, the file won't save and update because the application isn't logging the change. Same goes for undo, it won't undo the color change it will skip back to the last change made before the color Hex adjust. Conversely, color adjustment via any other way (click a swatch, eyedropper, rgb/cmyk sliders, etc.) DO record the color change, it will show up as "Undo Color" and an immediate save after color change updates the saved file. Asking that keyed Hex or pasted Hex color be added to history triggers. 

 

I constantly use Smart Objects in Photoshop and while a color overlay in PS is an in-app way to change all the color of the object often after to open the object back in Illustrator to adjust the art and/or color. Sometimes I forget that pasting a Hex from Photoshop to the Illustrator file will not commit the color when I hit Save and close the Smart Object (in photoshop it remains unchanged) so have to use some work around after pasting color, like a copy paste delete of art so that the program registers that other things have changed even though put back. 

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Correct answer clif_CROP

I would suggest you post this to Uservoice where the engineers will see it.

http://illustrator.uservoice.com


Done. Here is a link to the UserVoice post in case anyone wants to jump over there to add comment etc. I believe the same issue occurs in PC version of application so if someone can confirm and add that would appreciate. 

 

Adobe UserVoice: Hex color doesn't count as an action 

2 replies

Participating Frequently
October 22, 2023

I amhaving the same problem now, a year later. It does not let me change colors of objects to specific hexes. I type in the hex, I press "enter", it seems to register, I see no visible change, I check in with the color palette again and it looks like the color has reverted to the one before my hex. I have even tried pressing "save" after pressing "enter", same result. I have tried to close the document and reopen it, no change. I have also tried to create colorless objects of a random shape, copy the size and keep them colorless, then insert specific hex tags to each and every one, and after I was done with all and pressed "save" to save my document and close it, I decided to check through the colors one last time; what I saw is the wrong codes, even though these circles were colorless before I put in the hexes. These were supposed to be samples of all the hexes I found in a website that I am tasked to redesign, I thought it would be cool to transfer at least some of the colors in my new design of the webpage, but apparently, the program has different opinions. Why am I not allowed to change the color properly? The hex tag needs to be used so I set the colors to be the exact shade of right. I am a graphic designer. 

Larry G. Schneider
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 22, 2023

Is the document you are attempting to paste the hex colors into RGB or CMYK? To use hex correctly it needs to be RGB.

Participating Frequently
October 23, 2023
In the color palette, hsb is selected. Was always selected. I've also tried
selecting rgb on it specifically, and the same thing happens! And I've got
the same issue with the swatches in "save for web rgb" setting, and I get
the same issue with the eyedropper (I run a test with it and it failed to
copy beige and gave me grey).

Besides, isn't the hex tag supposed to be universal for all color modes, so
that the same color is selected for different uses? Like, same hex tag
equivalent for printing, same hex tag equivalent for screens, and
essentially what changes is the display and not the color itself? Even
though the color mode changes? Because the hex is what unites different
color modes?
Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 9, 2022

So you paste in a color number, but there is no object selected?

clif_CROPAuthor
Inspiring
August 9, 2022

Nope, object selected and lets say its filled with Black #000000, and lets say you have a gray color, hex 9292929 that you have copied the number. Pasting that into the Hex color box and hiting enter will change the object's color on screen. However, if you hit Save, nothing happens, you'll have to do another action to be able to save the change. 

 

Now I DID mispoke when I said typing the number had the same effect. Just now, with a black object selected, I typed 929292 and enter, the object changed colors AND I was able to hit save and the file save/update. SO it is just a pasted Hex color that the bug occurs. 

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 9, 2022

I would suggest you post this to Uservoice where the engineers will see it.

http://illustrator.uservoice.com