In Illustrator I can right-click on the color in my library and select "add to swatches". I do not see that option for Photoshop. I've been doing a workaround of making a square and using the eyedropper, then adding the color to swatches. Or I write down the hex code and manually enter it in.
There has to be a better, more efficient way to work with the libraries.
I totally share your frustration. Although I see the benefit of the new CC library system. Managing all brand assets and syncing them with the could makes of sense. What does not make any sense from the user perspective is the CC library systems not being able to talk to the native application components across the creative suite not just in Photoshop. The argument that you need to import every color into the application library one by one before you are able to use it across the application natively simply does not fly with users. It is more than logical users want the ability the drag and drop colors from the cc library panel straight into the Gradient tools. Recolor tool (Illustrator), Color Overlay Layer Style (Photoshop), or import a group of colors, just to name a few. People who are trying to convince users that there is nothing wrong with how the cc library system currently works are not fooling anyone but themselves. Adobe simply introduced a new system without making sure it fully integrates with legacy systems hoping nobody would notice. Well… we notice!
I'm also having difficulties using the Library colors in Photoshop. It is super easy in Illustrator. I'm having to make a filled shape with the color from the library, then add it to my swatches. It's an extra step that shouldn't be necessary.
I'm glad I found this. I'm trying to create a gradient map, and I thought I could click on the colours saved in my CC Library, and it would load into the gradient palette. But no! The way it works (that's a relative term) feels a bit pointless as it stands. It certainly doesn't improve workflow.
There's so much that Adobe has recently done that feels like 'features for feature's sake'. Sharing, anyone? (Which they are now rowing back on).
As »Idea« this has garnered three votes in about two years, so it seems that this might just not affect that many Photoshop users. (Which is not to say that the feature could not or should not be improved.)
Good point. Probably because most sensible people worked out instantly that the feature is ornamental rather than functional. The real irony? As I was loading each swatch into Photoshop to utilise them, it automatically loaded them back into the Libraries panel until I unchecked it in the add swatches panel. F*cking hilarious! To think. I could have doubled up on swatches in my Libraries that I could use simply and seamlessly with native apps. A real boon!
Again, why so many steps when the color is staring me in the face? Why can't it be one-click and add like it is in ullustrator? This is simply unreal for a feature that is literally the most used feature of the program. There should be five different one click options for adding or changing colors.
What's mind-blowing is that in all the years PS and Ai have been around no one thought, "Hey why don't we make changing colors as easy in PS as it is in Ai?" Literally unreal.
This is simply unreal for a feature that is literally the most used feature of the program.
I suspect a lot of Photoshop users barely (or even not at all) use the Libraries for storing color swatches because when using Photoshop to retouch photographic images color swatches can play a negligible role.
So »most used feature of the program« seems quite strange to me in this case.
What's mind-blowing is that in all the years PS and Ai have been around no one thought, "Hey why don't we make changing colors as easy in PS as it is in Ai?" Literally unreal.
What are you talking about here?
Please elaborate, ideally with the help of screenshots.
This is an ongoing thread, not necessarily specific to me. I replied to another reply but I've had multiple similar experiences. I eventually solved my specific problems but it's a larger question about the easy of use of the library/color features.
The lack of specific questions about this might indicate frustration or simply not know how to correctly describe the issue? My background is manifacturing at Toyota and the problem assessment is as critical a step to problem solution as the solution itself. For me specifically, viewing any process from an efficiency perspective is 2nd nature, particularly one that may involve multiple internal customers and an actual end customer.
Someone understood the need for seamless integration in fresco but didn't consider it for photoshop?
At the moment i'm currently frustrated at how annoying it is to add swatches to libraries for fresco. Why do I have to drag one at time? Why can't I just right click a group and add it to my library? why can't i drag the group? Why can't i drag multiple selected swatches to the library?
Do the devs not use these features? I don't understand why this has been a problem for years. This exactly why I stopped using librarys cause it's just so badly integrated. Now I need it and it's annoying.
I suspect a lot of Photoshop users barely (or even not at all) use the Libraries for storing color swatches because when using Photoshop to retouch photographic images color swatches can play a negligible role.
So »most used feature of the program« seems quite strange to me in this case.
This feels like a case of one hand not knowing what the other hand is doing, but artists do a lot with photoshop. Regardless of how much adobe like to push artists away from photoshop for drawing and painting a lot of people still use it for that.
I dunno why adobe likes to ignore people use photoshop for things other than photos where swatches are crucial.
EDIT: Also on your point about not many upvotes, I had this problem years ago and simply decided to not use the function than fuss about it. This is core product offering and part of justifying the subscription.
It shouldn't take years for basic usability.
I'm just annoyed now cause i'm forced to use it to get colors in fresco. I'd wager 90% of users look at a bad new feature and rather than bother with it just do what they've always done. If they wanna back up switches they just export it and put it in a dropbox. Cause the adobe solution is just a pain in ass.
Or maybe they suffered through it the one time they needed it. I don't think anything on this forum is representative of how big a problem is cause most people won't put in the time to complain unless it's REALLY REALLY in the way.
EDIT2: Like even the most upvoted thing on this site is like 500 upvotes for a program used by tens of millions. It's rare for stuff on this site to crack 100 after a DECADE. IMO anything with even 5 upvotes on this site should be considered a big problem.cause there could be hudreds of thousands of users with that problem who just aren't on this website willing to complain.
Maybe this is why people say photoshop updates are stagnant. They're reading the room wrong.
@sacb0y , those that don’t »speak up« should not be surprised about not »being heard«.
And ideally nobody should make nonsensical claims – when someone calls Photoshop swatches the »most used feature of the program« it seems hard to take that seriously to me.
That’s not to dispute that CC Libraries and other Panels don’t seem to »harmonize« very well yet – so there is certainly room for improvement.
That's a dumb mentality from a product standpoint. The fact anyone takes the time to complain here is a blessing. Not like this site has tons of engagement.
search deviant art for swatches, gumroad. Plenty of sites.
Swatches are core for artists, thats why fresco was designed in a way that makes sense. Unless Photoshop has given up artists to clip studio and procreate.
And the problems with libraries has been there for at least 5 years now.
That's a dumb mentality from a product standpoint. The fact anyone takes the time to complain here is a blessing. Not like this site has tons of engagement.
I essentially stated that not voicing complaints/wishes/… will likely not lead to those being addressed.
Could it be that you misunderstood the statement or are you referring to something else?
It's because, if I want to use it in the Gradient, I'm only able to use colors from the swatch panel. Adobe tools recoloring method is a garbage, I'm sorry. But Figma made it so simply and now, I'm demanding the same simplicity.
Finally. I thought, I'm the only silly guy who's trying to find out the libraries benefits. I guess they had this idea initially, but never finished. At the moment, library has no advantages. Too many clicks to recolor something in Ai and in Gradients.
51
Replies
AdChoices