Inheriting Color Values Between Color Palettes in InDesign

[dublove]

Can a color palette be made to inherit color values in one direction? Like the paragraph style based functionality.

An example: A color palette: color values are C100,M100,Y20,K0 When the B color palette inherits the A color palette, the color value of B is also C100,M100,Y20,K0.

Now there is a hue percentage change function, but they have the same parent name and child name, which is inconvenient. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

<Title renamed by MOD>

[Mike Witherell]

https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/swatches.html

About halfway down is a section called:

Share swatches between applications

It shows how to import and export .ASE files that define color swatches.

Swatches can also be shared through the CC Libraries panel.

I recommend you make sure you are using any and all softwares in RGB color mode. InDesign hides that under Edit > Transparency Blend Space.

[dublove]

It's too complicated to be done in ID only.
Just wish ID had this feature.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @dublove,

Thank you for your question about inheriting color values between color palettes in InDesign. Currently, InDesign does not have a built-in feature to link color palettes directly in a parent-child relationship where color values automatically inherit changes. While the hue percentage change and shared names can be managed, this approach may feel limiting for complex workflows.

We understand how this feature could enhance your workflow. I encourage you to submit a feature request via Adobe's UserVoice platform to advocate for this functionality to be added in future updates: [Adobe InDesign Feature Requests](https://adobe.ly/4evaDnQ).

Feel free to ask if you need help with workarounds or have any additional questions!

Best,

Abhishek Rao

[dublove]

https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums

???

A pretty hard site to use.
Always like a stone sinking into the sea.

[Frans v.d. Geest]

(Edit: sorry, misunderstood 🫣)

[dublove]

Hello.
I don't understand what you mean.
Is there an example you can share?

[Mike Witherell]

I'm still not sure what you are really describing. Can you expand on what you are doing and why?

[dublove]

Swatch B is inherited from Swatch A. They have the same color, different shades, and different names.

[Mike Witherell]

When InDesign makes a Tint Swatch, you get the same color, different shade, but basically the same name (but with, for example, a 50% added at the end of the same name) 

Interestingly, you can rename the Tint Swatch, but it will rename the Parent Swatch too. Parent/Child swatches always share the name in InDesign. But, if you have an object selected using the Child swatch color and then click on the Swatches panel menu button > New Swatch, you get the same tint color as an independent swatch that can have any new name you want. However, it is not going to be a child color anymore.

[dublove]

Yeah, yeah.
That's what I was talking about, sometimes I just want to control the sub-color palette individually.