Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 11/23/2008

Question
I'd like to create a realistic drawing for my client using photos of the actual
textile.  In this case, the photo images are of glitter, prismatic, and
holographic decorative tape.  Is there a way to add these photo images into a
custom swatch so I'm able to fill in the design with them?

Thank you,
Susa

Answer
Hi Susa,

Use the eyedropper tool to pick up the colors and then drag the swatch to your swatches palette. That will ad the color to the color swatches.

If you are looking to do the actual glitter pattern etc. That cannot be used in Illustrator very effectively, you can create a 1:1 square image out of Photoshop and bring that in, then drag it into your swatches palette as a pattern tile, but it will look tiled.

I would suggest trying to create the effects using gradients, etc. But this would be better off in Photoshop.

Thanks

Kevin