In
Part 1 of this tutorial, we reviewed the basics of an efficient color workflow. Part 2 will focus on newer features that are available with versions CS3 and higher.
Organize your Colors
Organizing your colors into folders is a good habit to get into, and can save you the trouble of hunting through a messy Swatches Palette. Here‘s just one way to create a color group.
1) From the Swatches Palette, click on the “New Color Group” icon and enter a name.
2) Select your swatches, then drag them into the new folder.
Use your Resources
Illustrator ships with several pre-defined color libraries for you to work with. Using these colors is especially useful if you‘re looking for some industry-standard spot colors. Here‘s how to open a predefined library.
1) From the Swatches Palette, click on “Swatch Libraries menu” and choose a library.
2) When you find a color group you like, simply drag the colors into your Swatches Palette. If you‘re looking for a specific color, you can search for it using the Find dialog.
Tap into the Community
If you need some quick color inspiration, one of the best ways to find it is from your fellow designers and artists. An art community such as Adobe Kuler is a great resource. To save time, you can browse Kuler without ever leaving Illustrator.
1) Open the Kuler window. (In Illustrator CS3, it‘s located under Window > Adobe Labs > Kuler.)
2) Use the drop down menu to select a way to browse.
3) When you find a palette you like, choose “Add to Swatches.”
Let the Color Guide Work for You
The Color Guide is yet another way to quickly choose colors. Here‘s a basic overview of how to use the palette.
1) Go to Window > Color Guide to display the Color Guide Palette.
2) Select a base color by clicking on a swatch, or using the eyedropper to choose a color from your artwork.
3) In the Color Guide Palette, confirm that the correct base color is selected (the icon in the upper left corner should be the same color that you just selected.)
4) Use the drop-down menu to choose a color rule. The Color Guide will apply the rule to your base color, and provide you with the resulting color group.
5) If you like the result, click “Save color group to Swatch panel.”
The Color Guide Palette, Adobe Kuler, and the Color Libraries that ship with Illustrator are some of the fastest ways to find great inspiration. These features, along with the ones we reviewed in Part One, can go a long way towards improving your Color Workflow in Illustrator. Take the time to try out these tips, and adapt your favorite ones into your everyday practice.
Next: Overcoming Creative Slumps »
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