Skip to main content
M
Mau Design
Inspiring
March 25, 2018
Answered

Customize Arrowheads in Illustrator

  • March 25, 2018
  • 4 replies
  • 5203 views

Hello,

I need to customize an arrowhead in Illustrator but I'm having a problem.

I did all the procedure of opening the Arrowheads.ai file from the ShowPackageContent and than I add a symbol ( which is the new arrowhead I need ), and all of this went well, the problem is that the new arrowhead does not keep the color I added, it shows it in grey tone.

Does anyone know why ?

Thanks

[Here is the list of all Adobe forums... https://forums.adobe.com/welcome]

[Moved from generic Cloud/Setup forum to the specific Program forum... Mod]

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Andrei Koziakov

    Hi,

    I think it's normal behavior in this case.  New arrow in Arrowheads.ai file must be added with black (grayscale) colour. Because the arrowhead takes the stroke color applied to the object.

    In case if you need to use a multicolour arrowhead my suggestion is to use some pattern brush:

    — add the arrowhead as a 'pattern swatch' into the 'Swatches' panel (just drag the object into 'Swatch' panel and drop it there)
    — then create a new 'Pattern brush' in the 'Brushes' panel, and choose this pattern swatch as 'Start tile' or 'End tile' in the brush options dialog

    4 replies

    M
    Mau DesignAuthor
    Inspiring
    March 25, 2018

    Wow, thank very much guys, such a nice and active forum !

    Andrey Kozyakov  I love you !

    That is exactly what I need

    Have good day

      Anna Lander
      Anna Lander
      Inspiring
      March 25, 2018

      Check if you filled your new elements with 100% black. If there was another color, the program might use it as a needed color.
      I just checked the workflow on my system and all works well with the Stroke color which I add to the stroke. To be sure, you can take the color from any existing symbol.

      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 25, 2018

      https://forums.adobe.com/people/Anna+Lander  schrieb

      Check if you filled your new elements with 100% black.

      They need to be RGB 000. The arrowheads file is an RGB file and should stay that way. So black needs to be RGB 000, not 100% K.

      Anna Lander
      Anna Lander
      Inspiring
      March 25, 2018

      yes, you're right, I've forgotten to clear this.

      Andrei Koziakov
      Andrei KoziakovCorrect answer
      Inspiring
      March 25, 2018

      Hi,

      I think it's normal behavior in this case.  New arrow in Arrowheads.ai file must be added with black (grayscale) colour. Because the arrowhead takes the stroke color applied to the object.

      In case if you need to use a multicolour arrowhead my suggestion is to use some pattern brush:

      — add the arrowhead as a 'pattern swatch' into the 'Swatches' panel (just drag the object into 'Swatch' panel and drop it there)
      — then create a new 'Pattern brush' in the 'Brushes' panel, and choose this pattern swatch as 'Start tile' or 'End tile' in the brush options dialog

      Doug A Roberts
      Community Expert
      Doug A RobertsCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 25, 2018

      arrowheads adopt the stroke colour you set. so they need to be black in the arrowheads file to work properly. you can't have a stroke one colour and an arrowhead another (or several).

        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
        Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices