Patterns

[Maria Paola 02]

Hello, I've been using Illustrator for 2 months, I want to create patterns, but it's not saving. So when I open another file it doesn't appear. Could someone help me? Thanks

[Myra Ferguson · Accepted solution]

Any swatches (including pattern swatches) you make are only saved into the current document. If you'd like to make them available to other documents, then you'll need to save the swatch library. Here's how:

1. Go to the Swatch panel (Window > Swatches) panel menu (the hamburger menu in the upper right of the panel)
2. Select Save Swatch Library as AI... 
3. Then in another Illustrator document, go to the Swatches panel menu and select Open Swatch Library > User Defined and select the name of the swatch library that you saved.

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

Another way to have them available is by using CC libraries.

Pattern swatches are not supported in CC libraries (and neither are global colors, gradients and brushes).

But as a workaround you can drag an object using a brush/pattern/gradient/spot or global color to the CC Library 

You can also drag multiple items using different brushes/patterns/gradients/global colors together into a CC library to simulate a library.

The easiest way to add them to a new document is to hold down the Alt key when you drag them from the library and place them in a new document. The patterns/gradients/global colors automatically get added to your swatches panel.

You can hit escape before you click to place the object(s) or delete the dragged library items because the swatches and brushes are now part of the document.