Expert: Amy - 10/21/2007

Question
Hi Amy:

I'm using Illustrator 10 CE on Windows XP.  I created a new swatch library in Illustrator CS2, but when I tried to open this library in 10, it didn't import anything.  I tried creating a new swatch library in 10, but I can't save an entire library.  I have about 20 swatches that I want to use regularly, but Illustrator never remembers them and i have to repeatedly manually import one everytime i want to use one.  Am I missing something?  OR can you only save swatch libraries in versions older than 10?

Thanks!
Erin

Answer
Hi Erin,

I doubt that you'd be able to open a CS2 library in 10. Swatch books were handled differently in 9 and 10, you're right.

There's a trick to doing it but it can be done.

Open the AI file that has the swatches you want. Delete all the artwork from it but keep the swatches. Save to a file named Erin's Swatches.ai and drag that file into the Illustrator 10/Swatch Libraries folder and the library will be added to the list in the Swatch Libraries Window the next time you open Illustrator!

Hope this HELPS!
Amy