Saving PMS spot colour at a percentage tint into a swatch.

[JesLeaMac]

I am trying to save a spot colour at a percentage into a swatch. I am attaching a video because it would be easier to show than explain.

I feel like in the past I was able to save a spot colour at a percentage tint into my swatch panel... I feel like I am going crazy. Maybe I could never do this and I thought I could?

Any insight would be super. Thanks.

CS6, fully updated as per the cloud.

[Monika Gause]

So what are you doing?

Creating a tint and then delete the Pantone swatch? That won't work. You need to keep the "mother".

BTW: WHich version is it? Can you give us a number? Because if you have the Cloud and fully updated, then it won't be CS6.

[JesLeaMac]

Yes, I was creating a tint, saving as a new swatch, and I guess, deleting the "mother".

The version of Illustrator I have is 24.1.2.. Sorry, CS6 is on my other computer, my bad!

[Ton Frederiks]

Check Window > Separations Preview if it is still a spot.

[JesLeaMac]

Yes, in my Separations Preview, it is still showing as a SPOT in there. Also, in my Swatches Panel, the swatches still have the little dot in the bottom right-hand corner indicating that it is a SPOT there also, but I lose the SPOT name and dot in the Colour Panel.

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

You found a good reason not to delete the original spot color.

Even when you only use percentages of your spot color, choosing Select All Unused will not select the original spot.

[JesLeaMac]

I do find it weird, I feel like I've done it in the past. I asked a friend this question also who works in Illustrator and it doesn't happen to her. I can't explain that. 

But thank you for your help!

[Ton Frederiks]

I wonder what version your friend is using, I've got quite a few older versions, and they all behave the same.

[JesLeaMac]

I ask her and she is using the same version as me! (24.1.2.)

Maybe she didn't play around in the file long enough to create the same outcome and just deleted the "mother" and saw nothing that immediately changed.

[Ton Frederiks]

It is probably better to never delete your "mother" (or "father").