Select an object containing the color you want to add.
Last updated on
Oct 22, 2026
Learn how to store colors, patterns, and gradients in Creative Cloud Libraries to reuse them across projects and devices in Adobe Illustrator.
Color assets sync automatically and stay up to date across Illustrator and other Adobe apps. You can add individual colors, color themes (groups of 1–5 colors), patterns, and gradients to libraries. Share colors with team members to maintain consistency across all documents.
Creative Cloud Libraries requires an active Creative Cloud subscription.
Add a color from the artwork
In the Libraries panel (Window > Libraries), select Add Elements.
Choose Fill Color from the dropdown menu.
Add a color using the New Swatch dialog
Select Window > Swatches.
Select New Swatch from the Swatches panel menu.
In the New Swatch dialog, define the name, type, mode, and color values.
Select the Add To My Library checkbox.
Choose a library from the dropdown menu or select Create New Library.
Select OK.
Add a color theme from Color Groups
In the Swatches panel, select a color group that contains 1–5 colors.
Select Add to Library.
Note
Color groups must contain 1–5 colors to be added as color themes.
Add patterns or gradients
Select the pattern or gradient you want to add.
In the Libraries panel, select Add Elements.
Choose Fill/Stroke Pattern or Fill/Stroke Gradient from the dropdown menu.
You can also add patterns and gradients from the Swatches panel using the same Add to Library workflow.
Add library colors to the Swatches panel
In the Libraries panel, right-click a color theme.
Choose Add To Swatches.
Apply a color from the libraries.
Select an object in your document.
In the Libraries panel, select a color to apply it to the active fill or stroke property.
To apply a color specifically to the fill regardless of which property is active, right-click the color in the Libraries panel and choose Set Color.
Edit a library color
In the Libraries panel, double-click the color you want to edit.
Select a new color using the Color Picker dialog.
Select OK.
All instances of the color used in your documents are automatically updated.
Rename a library color
In the Libraries panel, double-click the color's name.
Type a new name and press Enter.
Delete a library color
In the Libraries panel, select the color you want to remove.
Choose Delete from the panel menu or context menu.
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