Saving a spot color in a Library

Question

I am very often using a CutContour spot color in my jobs, so I tried to save the CutContour color as a spot in my Library so that I could conveniently add it to subsequent new files. However, after saving it in the Library, it changes to the base color when used in the file. Is there any way to conveniently use such a spot color or do I always have to do it again?

Bobby Henderson · Accepted Answer

When you say you've saved the spot color in your library did you actually save a .ASE (Adobe Swatch Exchange) file?

Usually when I add a CutContour swatch to Adobe Illustrator I'll start a blank document and then delete all the default colors out of the Swatches palette. Then I go through the usual steps of defining the CutContour spot color. I usually have things set to where that's the only color remaining in the palette. At the fly-out menu I'll select "Save Swatch Library as ASE..." I'll usually give the ASE file a "CutContour" file name. Once the ASE file is saved it will show up in the Swatches menu under "User Defined." I can close the blank document, start a new AI document (or open an existing one) and that "CutContour" swatch will be available to open or add to the existing swatches.

I don't recall ever having any problems of the CutContour spot color changing to a process or RGB color when re-opening a file, even on another computer running Illustrator.

Ton Frederiks · Answer

Do you mean a CC library?They don't handle colors very well. There are workarounds:Global colors, Spot colors, gradients, brushes and pattern swatches are not very well supported in CC libraries.As a workaround you can drag an object using a brush/pattern/gradient/global color to the CC Library You can also drag multiple items using different brushes/patterns/gradients/global/spot colors together into a CC library to simulate a library. Text objects must be grouped before adding them as graphics.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.

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