Known Participant

Answered

How do I create a custom color swatch ".aco" file?

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
July 27, 2021
4 replies
8490 views

I want to create a custom ".aco" file in my color swatch library, and the only way I can figure out how to do that is take the "Photo Filter Colors" file (it has the fewest number of existing swatches), create a set of new colors from a photograph with the eye dropper and the bucket, delete all of the original ones, and then save the new set ... which seems way too complicated. Is there a standard process for creating a new collection?

How to

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer Jeff Arola

In the Expert mode you can go to Edit>Preset Manager>Swatches, click the first swatch then shift click on the next to last swatch and click Delete. Then click on the remaining swatch and save out the swatch as your blank swatch file that you load any time you want to make a color swatch library. (there has to be at least one swatch in a library or you can't save it)

You could also convert your image to Indexed Color Mode (Image>Mode>Indexed Color) to get a variety of colors from your image. Then go to Image>Mode>Color Table and save out the file as an act (color table) then load the act file into your swatches panel.

Jeff Arola

Community Expert

You should be able to open .act files from the Swatches panel

Then you can save the Swatches as a .aco file.

Jeff Arola

Correct answer

Community Expert

In the Expert mode you can go to Edit>Preset Manager>Swatches, click the first swatch then shift click on the next to last swatch and click Delete. Then click on the remaining swatch and save out the swatch as your blank swatch file that you load any time you want to make a color swatch library. (there has to be at least one swatch in a library or you can't save it)

You could also convert your image to Indexed Color Mode (Image>Mode>Indexed Color) to get a variety of colors from your image. Then go to Image>Mode>Color Table and save out the file as an act (color table) then load the act file into your swatches panel.

garycdAuthor

Known Participant

Jeff, thanks again. One final quesion (I promise). I have used the "Index" several times and been able to generate several ".act" files, but I can't find out how to convert them to ".aco" files. (I have a version on my desktop and in the Color Swatches file). I am using an Apple, so my system screens are slightly different -- and I can't "open" the ".act" file -- don't have a program that will open it. Can you tell me how to converit it/them?

Gary

Jeff Arola

Community Expert

FANTASTIC. IT WORKED.

But, I lied -- one more question.

I know how to delete duplicate swatches from the indexted collection, but I was wondering if there is a way to organize the the swatches -- i.e., drag one into a new location next to other swatches of a similar color -- putting all the browns together, the blues, etc., etc.

And, how do I give you a SUPERIOR rating in the community?

Gary

If you go to Edit>Preset Manager>Swatches you can click and drag individual swatches to different positions.

Greg_S.

Community Expert

Here's what the User Guide says.

Glenn 8675309

Legend

I've downloaded random aco swatches and used those as "sacrifical" aco files....

garycdAuthor

Known Participant

Where did you find "random aco swatches" for downloading? When I search the internet, I just get instructions about the swatches panel.

Gary

Walter_H

Legend

Hi Gary,

Search for "photoshop color swatches download" and you'll find several sites that have free color swatch files to download. Many of them will be *.ASE (Swatch Exchange) files but they can still be used by PSE if you copy them to your Presets\Color Swatches folder.

--Walter in Davie, FL

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded