How to Always load true black in the swatches panel

[dcmaia]

Hey folks,

I mainly work in RGB. Virtually all my documents are in RGB mode. However, my swatches panel doesn't understand that, so every now and then I'll wonder why all my blacks look washed out. This happens because every time I create a new file, the swatches panel just loads up with default CMYK swatches, so I have to just delete them and add a true RGB black to it every. single. time. I create a new document. 

I tried creating a .ai swatches file, but it doesn't show up in the user-defined dropdown, I have to go into Finder and open it every time, and even then, it doesn't change my swatches panel, it just creates a new window.

Is there a way to make sure Illustrator always loads a specific swatch library without digging into separate files? Or even just tell Illustrator that if I'm in RGB, the swatches should also be in RGB? I'm sure there's some toggle or setting somewhere I can't find, because it's kind of a no-brainer. If someone is working in RGB, the swatches panel should surely change to RGB, right?

[Monika Gause]

When creating a new file, always use a New document profile (this is the upper row in "New document" from the Web, Illustration or Mobile or Film. Don't use CMYK based ones.

[dcmaia]

Unless I'm misunderstanding, that's not the problem... Mine is already in RGB mode when I'm creating new documents:

[Monika Gause]

Is that a document profile that you made? Or which document profile do you use?

[dcmaia]

Ah hah! You were on the right track.

Figured it out: it doesn't matter if you specify RGB Color in the Color Mode dropdown on the right side.

What matters is the little icon on the boxes on the left. I've always ignored that entire left section - I don't think I've ever used it since they added it, but if your selection has the little pencil and ruler icon, it loads CMYK swatches even if you specify you're working in RGB and you colorspace is a RGB standard. Colors load correctly if it's the little globe icon. For whatever reason, the most 'recent' item had the pencil & ruler icon, and since I never bothered changing it... it would always load CMYK swatches.

Now what annoys me is- the document is in RGB. I'm working in pixels. I specify the right colorspace. I have every indication that I should be working in a digital format... and yet these little icons are what dictates print vs digital? Is there any other indication that I'm working in the wrong 'mode' after I create the document?

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

Those 5 profiles are really an overcomplication. There is one main difference, which is the color mode, because that defines how the swatches can be set up.

So if you don 't like what is there, configure it:

If the document color mode is correct, set up the swatches you need

set the  unit, pixel snapping, preview options, etc.

Save that as an AI file and move into the New document profiles folder inside the Illustrator filder in your User folder. Then you can use it. It will be listed under the document profile that it originally been in.

Exact folder path for new document profiles https://www.vektorgarten.de/illustrator-settings.html

[Met1]

The swatches don't determine the color model of the doc, you do that when you create a new doc, or you can change it by going to File-> Doc Color Mode.

However, you are stuck with your cmyk swatches if you already created a doc in cmyk color mode, but just delete them with action Delete Unused Panel Options (change doc to rgb) then add in a rgb swatch with Open Swatch Library and add your prefered colors.

You can create a template with all your most used colors and open a new doc with New From Template (Shift-Ctrl-N).

[dcmaia]

The problem is that the swatches come up in CMYK even if I start a brand new document in RGB.

I suppose if I want RGB colors I'd always have to create a new document from template? But that doesn't seem right... There should be a way to have them just come up as RGB when I create a new doc in RGB, right?

[Larry G. Schneider]

How are you determining that the swatches are in CMYK? 

[Met1]

When you start a new doc you don't see this?

If you don't, you should reset prefs.

[Mike_Gondek]

File >> Doucment Color Mode >> RGB. Then  choose black and you should get RGB000?

If not show us a screenshot of your Edit > Color Settings

[dcmaia]

If I understand correctly, this document is in RGB, right?

[Met1]

Yes.