Newly created pattern does not appear in the swatch panel in any other file than its own

[ishanap20781753]

Hi! I'm new to illustrator and I can't seem to find an answer in any of the of the forums.

Here's how it is: I created a pattern (Object > Pattern > Make) successfully saved as pattern to swatch panel. Great.

Except, when I open up a new file to practice using the pattern, it's not in the swatch panel. I checked the settings and it said it was showing everything.

I go back to the original file that I used to make the pattern. According to the swatch panel, it is a pattern. Going from each file and the contents of the swatch panel changes. I can't figure out how to keep the pattern there. What's the point of creating a pattern if I can't put it on anything else.

If anyone has encountered this before, please help me.

[Anna Lander · Accepted solution]

The Swatches panel is associated to your working file. If you close the file withour saving, you will loose the new swatches. So, to see the new pattern somewhere else, you have to save the swatches set.

Use Panel menu > Save Swatches Library as ASE (support file, Adobe Swatches) / Save Swatches Library as AI (Adobe Illustrator file).

then you can add your pattern to any other artwork using Open Swatch Library option.

[defaulth1enx0mgavbl]

This did not work for me, still cannot find the swatch

[Anthony28017997upqr]

me too, even saved files don't show up in new docs as anything useful. A frustrating tool that doesn't seem to work to save time (I might as well redraw the pattern every time)

[Monika Gause]

me too, even saved files don't show up in new docs as anything useful. A frustrating tool that doesn't seem to work to save time (I might as well redraw the pattern every time)

By @Anthony28017997upqr

Patterns are included in the file you created them in. They are an actual part of the document, they don't exist without a document. That's how Illustrator works.

Now if we assume that all patterns you have created would be available in all new files, then this would probably blow them up considerably, which is not at all desirable. You can export them as libraries and then have those libraries open.

[david.e.lopez]

I give you the answer that these so-called experts can't. open the panel that you want to use it in and then open the panel that has your pattern in. Simply click and drag it into the panel you want to use it in and drop it into the selected shape and boom there it is.

[Kennedy28622679w08t]

THIS should be the solution. Worked for me.

[diamondw82926617]

I have the opposite problem! I can see the swatches but not the original file, what do I do?

[Anna Lander]

show please how it looks

[brianartbat]

Save it as an AI Library and it works. Not going to use patterns in the other apps so no point in using the ASE Library.

[The Wiser34617464g7i0]

Make sure you seleck " Show All Swatches " .

[Monika Gause]

This will only help if the pattern is in the file. The problem is that the pattern isn't in the file.