Trouble using shared CC library of colors — and getting illustrations to update to the shared palett

[cady.u]

Context:

We have a rainbow palette of branded colors.

We also build hundreds of custom illustrations using these colors.

We need the illustrations to have colors assigned, which update if the brand color updates in the library. So for example, if 50 illustrations have blue400 assigned from the shared CC library, and that blue400 has a value of #0000ff, AND if brand changes the blue400 value to #4400ff, we need all of the illustrations to update (when opened) to reflect the new blue400 value.

What we've done:

We have shared a library via CC shared libraries that includes all the brand colors.

We have created a new file with a user who is invited to that library.

We have tested on a simple square shape, by assigning stroke and fill colors from the Libraries panel.

We have changed a library color from orange to hot pink, to test if it updates the square which was assigned the color.

Problem:

When we assign colors to shapes from the shared library, the colors don't seem linked to the library. They seem to create local swatches only. When we changed the library color from orange to hot pink, the library updates, but the illustration which had been assigned a color using the Libraries panel does not update.

[Ton Frederiks]

Cady, there is no way to have colors linked to an external library, and I cannot find a workaraound.

You can make a feature request here:

https://illustrator.uservoice.com

[cady.u]

What is the point of a shared color library then? Don't shared illustrations update everywhere? Why don't the colors? Do you have any more reading I could look at to understand this?

[federico platon]

In Libraries you, we, just add defined swatches, there are no linking available despite you can edit the current swatches. 

Maybe there no some reason for not including (currently) a feature like that, unexpected changes could happen too.

I think you could use global color swatches in the library, before using them.

Then, anytime you change/edit them, they instantly update in your artwork.

The Recolor Artwork command or icon lets you slect objects and edit the colors used on them at once. 

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

Linked swatches, like colors, patterns and gradients (and symbols) may be useful in some cases, but could cause trouble in other cases. If it would be possible, there should be a very clear distinction between document (embedded) swatches and linked external swatches.

You can do a feature request here:

https://illustrator.uservoice.com

[cady.u]

Can you help me understand though the actual feature set currently available from Adobe—illustrations hosted in the shared library get updated, correct?

"Sync, share, and update fast.

Make collaboration a breeze by sharing common assets in team libraries. And link graphics so that if they’re changed, you and your team can easily update them across projects to maintain creative consistency."

https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/libraries.html

So some things in the library update, but other things don't? Just trying to get to the bottom of the actual feature. It's been very hard to find this information out.

EDIT:

I authored this feature request 🙂
https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-feature-requests/suggestions/40682929-sh...