◆ Illustrator · color

Create Color Palettes

Assemble a reusable campaign colour palette that matches brand guidelines and campaign tone: build six swatches (prima…

2heights
2tasks
1roles do it
See the prompt↓More color workflows

The same job, four prompts

do it · improve it · decide · become
AExecute — “help me do it”Assemble a reusable campaign colour palette that matches brand guidelines and campaign tone:…+
Assemble a reusable campaign colour palette that matches brand guidelines and campaign tone: build six swatches (primary, secondary, two accents, background, CTA), apply global colours across the main artboard, and save the palette in the document library.
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.
BImprove — “do it better”Prepare the palette so all designers and partners use it correctly: ensure primary and CTA…+
Prepare the palette so all designers and partners use it correctly: ensure primary and CTA colours meet contrast against white and dark backgrounds, document HEX and sRGB values, mark which colours are for copy, backgrounds, and accents, and export the palette file for shared use.
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid
The tool
Swatches Panel

The Swatches panel helps you manage colors, gradients, and patterns within your Illustrator document.

  1. 1

    Select Window > Swatches to open the Swatches panel.

  2. 2

    Click the fill color or stroke color in the Properties panel to the right of the document.

  3. 3

    Select the Swatches option to view available swatches.

  4. 4

    To create a new swatch, select the New Swatch icon in the Swatches panel.

  5. 5

    In the New Swatch dialog box, select Global for process colors.

    NoteGlobal swatches update all objects using that swatch when the color is modified.

  6. 6

    To group swatches, select one or more swatches in the panel.

  7. 7

    Select More > New Swatch Group in the Swatches panel.

  8. 8

    To save swatches from Adobe Color CC, mix colors and click Save in Color CC.

  9. 9

    Choose a CC library and name the swatch theme.

  10. 10

    To create swatch info cards, select a color group or individual swatches in the Swatches panel.

    Best practiceOpen the panel menu and choose Create Swatch Info to generate customizable cards with color details.

Always keep your Swatches panel organized to streamline color management for any project.

Illustrator's scripting capabilities allow for automation of swatch creation, grouping, and library management.

Glossary

words on this page
New Swatch GroupOrganizes related swatches into folders within the Swatches panel for better management.ExampleYou create a folder to keep all the brand's primary colors together in the Swatches panel.
Panel menuA menu within a panel that provides additional options and commands specific to that panel's functions.ExampleClicking the small icon in the Brushes panel reveals options like 'New Brush' or 'Delete Brush'.
SwatchesA palette for storing and applying reusable colors, gradients, and patterns to objects.ExampleYou click a red swatch to instantly apply that exact shade of red to your selected text.
GlobalA swatch attribute that updates all instances of a color when the swatch definition changes.ExampleChanging a global red swatch instantly updates every object using that red throughout your document.

The real tasks

1 of them
Assemble a reusable colour palette that matches brand guidelines and campaign tones.

Who does this

1 roles
Digital Campaign Manager

Questions people ask

honest answers

Because you rarely think 'I want the redaction tool'. You think 'I have to share this without leaking the client's details'. Start from the need, and the feature finds you.

Real. Every job here was drawn from what people in real roles were actually seen doing in Illustrator — not a feature checklist.

No. Each page gives you a ready prompt you can paste into an AI assistant, plus the plain steps to do it yourself. Start with either — the goal is the finished job, not the tool.