Introduction

The swatches are for Illustrator ®, they include gradient and pattern swatches. The docu-mentation gives details on the installation and use of the swatches in Adobe ® Illustrator ®. The swatches are generally known as Illustrator pattern swatches, Illustrator gradients swatches, Illustrator CS3 colors, etc, I will be using the term swatches throughout. Illus-trator is registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated

Andrew

Swatches manual

Installation of swatches (gradients or patterns)

Please place the GX*.AI files into the presets 'gradients' folder or in the 'patterns' or with the latest version, swatches (the swatches folder might be below an additional folder of 'en_US' or 'en_GB' depending on your set language

i.e c:\program files\adobe\adobe illustrator CS2\presets\patterns (PC)

HD:applications:adobe illustrator CS2:patterns (OS X)

You can always place them in a user folder as well (requiring no permissions) but then you will always have to search for the files using the 'other library' option on the swatches palette

If you place them in the applications or program files folders using a basic account, the OS will ask for permission and you will have to enter your admin and password. This is nothing to do with the swatches, it is purely the permission system of the OS

New install location (alternative one for CS4)

Please place the patterns swatches in the <user>: library : ApplicationSupport : Adobe : Adobe Illustrator CS4 : en_US : swatches folder. Again, depends on the username (Andrew, Maggie, Steve or whatever your current username is) and the en_US depends on the language so it could be en_GB etc en_JP etc

Please place the Illustrator gradient swatches files in your user folder [user] \ appData \ roaming \ Adobe \ Adobe Illustrator CS4 settings \ en_US \ swatches changing the en_US to en_GB etc as required and the [user] to your username. You will then see the gradient files appear in the preset browser dropdown for the swatches panel.

For versions of Illustrator ®

PCC:\program files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CS4\presets\en_US\swatches C:\program files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CS3\presets\gradients (or patterns, if patterns)C:\program files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CS2\presets\gradients (or patterns, if patterns)C:\program files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CS\presets\gradients (or patterns, if patterns)C:\program files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator 10\presets\gradients (or patterns, if patterns or swatches)

MACHD:applications:Adobe Illustrator CS4:Presets:en_US:SwatchesHD:applications:Adobe Illustrator CS3:Presets:Gradients (or patterns, if patterns)HD:applications:Adobe Illustrator CS2:Presets:Gradients (or patterns, if patterns)HD:applications:Adobe Illustrator CS:Presets:Gradients (or patterns, if patterns)HD:applications:Adobe Illustrator 10:Presets:Gradients (or patterns, if patterns or swatches)

Initial use of swatches

Access the swatches via the load libraries functionality of the swatches palette.

1) Open the zip file2) Expand contents3) Go to the swatches for Illustrator folder within expand folder files4) Select the *.AI files5) Copy6) Go to the Adobe Illustrator presets folder and then paste the files into either gradients or patterns (depending on the file set)7) Open Illustrator8) Go to to the window menu and select swatches to display the swatches palette9) Go to top right of palette and display menu and select open swatch library option and then select an item from menu list10) Select swatch (this will place the item in the document swatch library)11) Apply to path etc

fig. Swatches palette

Opening the actual swatches folder / editing source swatches

Depending on the swatches set, some of the swatches file display the swatches in the document space / artpad. If there is nothing displayed, the swatches are only visible in the swatches palette (display via the window command swatches).

If you wish to modify the swatches at source, modify them via the actual swatches file and then re-save the file. Make a backup before editing the file as you may corrupt the file stopping any further access to the file

Editing the swatches, change the swatch in the swatches palette (if you change the design displayed in the document space, the swatch is not updated)

0) Backup Backup Backup the document before editing !!1) Open document2) Display swatch palette via windows command3) Drag swatch from the swatches palette4) Edit the swatch (retain the surrounding non fill non stroke bounding box)5) Drag back into the swatches palette (this won't replace the existing but will create a new swatch, you may wish to delete the existing one via the delete / bin command)6) Save document to Illustrator 10 format (or even earlier if you wish)

Applying swatches to a path

1) Windows menu2) Swatches3) Display swatches palette4) Go to the right menu and select a swatches library (via other library command or list)5) Select path6) Go to opened swatch library7) Select swatch (swatch is now added to the swatches palette for the document) and applied to path

If the swatch is a gradient, modify the gradient further by using the gradient tool such as changing the angle or length or type or aspect of the gradient.

If the swatch is a pattern, there is little you can do but you can re-scale etc the pattern

fig. Gradient applied to path

Scaling and rotating and shearing patterns

1) Select path containing swatch fill2) Object > transform3) Shear etc4) Set the object to not checked, leave the pattern as checked5) OK

Use the scale etc to re-scale a small or big pattern.

fig. Original pattern swatch fig. Pattern with 45 degreeshear

fig. Pattern with 45 degree rotate fig. 20% scaling

fig. Pattern moved fig. Pattern reflected

Applying swatches to text (pattern)

1) Windows menu2) Swatches3) Display swatches palette4) Go to the right menu and select a swatches library (via other library command or list)5) Select text6) Go to opened swatch library7) Select swatch (swatch is now added to the swatches palette for the document) and applied to text

Re-scale the pattern etc

texttext

fig. Pattern applied to text

fig. Pattern applied to text and then re-scaled via object > transformationscale (pattern is enabled, object is not)

Applying swatches to text (gradients)

1) Windows menu2) Swatches3) Display swatches palette4) Go to the right menu and select a swatches library (via other library command or list)5) Select text6) Object > expand7) Go to opened swatch library8) Select swatch (swatch is now added to the swatches palette for the document)

Manipulate gradient via the gradient tool etc

fig. Expanded text with gradient fill

fig. Expanded text with gradient fill withgradient applied across whole group

Applying swatches to text (gradients) via appearance palette

1) Windows menu2) Swatches3) Display swatches palette4) Go to the right menu and select a swatches library (via other library command or list)5) Select text6) Go to the appearance palette7) Add a new fill to the text8) Go to opened swatch library9) Select swatch (swatch is now added to the swatches palette for the document)

Manipulate gradient via the gradient tool etc. The advantage of this approach is that the gradient and the text are still editable as text

texttext

fig. Single fill applied viaapperance palette

fig. Two fills applied via appearance palette + change of angle and blending mode

Apply swatches to path's stroke

1) Select path2) Set stroke width to greater than 03) Select swatch from swatch library or document's swatches palette - select pattern

fig. Original path

fig. Path with pattern appliedto stroke

fig. Path with pattern appliedto stroke and the pattern has been rescaled to 20% viaobject > transformation

fig. Two pattern strokes applied viathe appearance palette

Appearance and multiple swatch fills

1) Select a path2) Go to the appearance palette3) Go to the fill of the path4) Select a gradient or pattern from the swatch dropdown in the fill entry5) Go to the right of the appearance palette and select menu6) Add new fill or duplicate item / entry7) Select first entry in the list8) window > transparency9) Change blending mode etc perhaps to differ-ence10) Change the gradient or pattern using gradi-ent tool etc (one or both)11) Repeat for additional fills as required

fig. Original path withone fill

fig. Two fills via appearanceand blending multiply fig. Different angles and two fills

Serial Number

Please store the serial number for future reference, updates, replacements etc (if this is the purchased edition of the swatches)

Support

If you have any questions about the Illustrator gradient or pattern swatches, please let me know, please contact support at graphicxtras.com

Requirements

Adobe ® Illustrator ® 10 CS1 CS2 CS3 CS4. Mac OS X 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 ME, XP, 98, 2000, and NT and Vista (and also Windows 7)

Minimum Requirements

At least 64MB of memory, though some operations might require a lot more.

Trademarks

Illustrator and Photoshop and InDesign are registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorpo-rated

Screenshots

Adobe product screen shot(s) reprinted with permission from Adobe Systems Incorporated.

Copyright

All the gradients / patterns are copyright Andrew Buckle 2004-2009, but they are royalty-free... Documentation is (c) 2009 Andrew Buckle / Abneil Software Ltd

Company Address

Telephone UK 01622 688 375http://www.graphicxtras.comsupport@graphicxtras.com

Additional Items on the graphicxtras.com site

We have a number of sets of plugins for Illustrator ® 10 and CS4 CS3 CS2 CS1 (as well as 8/9, and also for mac.. please contact us about that); and also brushes for Illustrator 8/910/CS/CS2/CS3/CS4 as well as plugins for Photoshop ® and other applications

Scripts

The set comes with bonus scripts for Illustrator ® CS2 and CS3 CS4. The scripts need to be placed in the scripts folder of Illustrator. They do things such as create a thumbnail gallery (basic) from the swatches in the current file; and other path options. They are not a required feature of the pack and can be ignored if you wish

Combine swatches

The gradients can be combined by combining multi-ple paths overlapping (and setting the blending mode to difference etc or changing the opacity)

You can also use the appearance palette and multi-ple fills

fig. A basic single swatch

fig. Two gradients - differencebut with same angle

fig. Two gradients - differencebut with one angle at 0 andanother at 90

fig. Two gradients - differencebut with same angle but differentlengths

fig. Two gradients - differencebut with 45 and 135 angles

fig. Two gradients - multiply modebut with same angle

Expanding gradients to mesh

The path / gradient can be expanded (in most cases) to a mesh via the expand command

The mesh can be manipulated as a normal gradient mesh (or use the mesh plug-in volume 16 from the graphicxtras.com plugins)

1) Select path2) Apply gradient swatch3) Object > expand4) Select gradient mesh option5) Use the gradient mesh tools to further manipulate the design via edit contents

There is a gradient mesh manipulation plug-in available on the graphicxtras.com site

fig. Original gradient

fig. Mesh

fig. Editing the contents of mesh

Expand gradients to paths

Expand into x number of objects. Ungroup and release clipping mask. The individual paths can then be moved / scaled etc

1) Select path with gradient2) Object > expand3) Set steps4) Expand 5) Double click path to isolate6) Object > ungroup (drag apart parts)

fig Expanded gradient

fig. Original gradient

fig. After isolating the path and ungrouping, the parts can be pulledapart

Rasterize gradient

The gradient swatch can be rasterized (via the object menu) - or use an effect to keep the path live.

Once rasterized, apply a blur etc or color effect or stained glass effect

Or apply a live trace to the rasterized gradi-ent

fig. Original gradient

fig. Object > rasterized

fig. Sumi effect applied to rasterized path

fig. Rasterized but then livetrace applied using a color setting

Distort paths with gradients

Gradient fill paths can be distorted, effects applied such as wave effects other ripples

1) Select path with gradient swatch2) Object > expand3) Set steps etc4) Apply effect on expanded path

fig. Original gradient swatch

fig. Expanded path with swatch and zigzag applied

fig. Expanded path with swatchand twist applied

fig. Expanded path androughen applied

Symbols and swatches

Drag a path / gradient into the symbol palette and create a symbol. The symbol can then be used with the symbol spray tool, animations, layer effects, and more

fig. Original gradient

fig. After being added to the symbols paletteand applied using the symbol sprayer tool. Further modify via the symbol sprayer sizer,scruncher etc tools

Gradient as a line

The gradient can be used as an underline or border in linear mode

fig. Linear gradient 0 angle

fig. Linear gradient 90 angle

fig. Linear gradient 90 angle - 3 lines

fig. Combining the same gradient but reversed in the centre

fig. Combining using two different gradients

fig. Linear gradient 0 angle - two different gradient lines

Gradient as a frame

The gradient can be used as a basic frame either in linear or radial

fig. Offset and linear gradientapplied

fig. Expanded stroke with a radial gradient

fig. Two paths, outer path with a gradientfig. Brush stroke, expanded and radial gradient applied

fig. Offset path, punk and bloat, linear gradientapplied and a basic drop shadow added

Colorization of pattern

Fill a path with the pattern, expand, pathfinder->trim, ungroup to remove the pattern back-ground defining box, delete defining box, select all the 'elements' of the pattern and apply a fill color or gradient color or stroke or an effect

Apply a gradient to the path elements, use the gradient tool to manipulate the direction etc of the gradient

Another approach, simply select the pattern in the palette, drag from the palette to the docu-ment, and expand, ungroup, select items and re-color etc as required, and with the defining box, drag to the swatches palette to re-save as a pattern

Or use an overlay of another path with color and set the blending mode (though this depends on the pattern)

fig. Original pattern

fig. Added color via appearancepalette using an add fill andblending mode of overlay

fig. Pattern expanded and trimmed viapathfinder and parts then ungrouped and re-colored

Transparency of patterns

The patterns can be overlaid, they are just paths with gaps, other paths can be arranged beneath or above the patterns. The pattern path can also have an opacity of less than 100%. Some patterns, especially those supplied in the theme packs, have transparency and can be overlaid over a color shape and other designs and gradient background etc.

fig. Polka dot patterns with ‘inbuilt’ transparency

fig. Pattern with opacity set to 50%

fig. Faded pattern with opacity at 30%

fig. Repeated paths with30% overlaid to createa blurry painted effect

Patterns as a graphic styles

Select a path with a pattern and then go to the graphic styles palette and save the pattern as a new style.

Using the appearance palette, multiple pattern fills can be added the same path with different scaling, rotation, etc

This can be saved as a style as well.

Color can also be added to the appearance (again, depending on the pattern)

Fairly complex pattern graphic styles can be created. These can be used in any future projects.

Additional effects can be added such as 3D / bevel etc

fig. Original pattern

fig. As a style, the pattern has been transformed/ scaled by 400% and then a live effect of extrude applied

Patterns as symbols

Add a pattern to a path, scale etc, expand path / pattern, trim, remove defining box, fill with color if required, drag the expanded pattern to the symbols palette.

Use the symbol in symbols sprayer etc

The symbols can also be used in 3D live effects. Select a path, go to the effects menu, 3D, use the bevel tool and map art option, select the pattern based symbol.

fig. Single pattern (from the graphicxtras.com polka dots swatches set saved to the symbols palette

fig. The pattern swatch applied as a symbolvia the symbol sprayer tool

Gradient stops

A gradient is made up of multiple gradient stops (either RGB CMYK ..) These can be moved or removed or added to via the gradient palette, subtly changing a gradient

Changing a gradient does not lose or modify the original gradi-ent stored in the gradients palette file (unless you edit the original file)

The gradient stop color can also be changed via the color palette

The midpoint of the gradient stops can be changed via the top row of the gradient palette, creating a blurry or really sharp setting (low or high settings for sharp)

Modifying the gradient does not modify the swatch either, you will have to create a new swatch and then save the swatch file to permanently save any changes to the gradient (though the path stores the gradient changes)

fig. Original gradient swatch

fig. One of the gradientstops changed (yellow one)

fig. Some of the gradientstops are dragged (removed)from the gradient bar

fig. Opacity of a couple ofthe stops has been changed

fig. Midpoints changed,set to low value to createsharp gradient

fig. Additional gradientstops added

fig. Same stops, just squeezedtogether

Length / origin of Gradi-ent - Radial

The gradient length and origin can be modified via the gradient tool. Use the tool to create close lines / stops or wider lines, or position in the top left or the middle etc of the path

1) Select path2) Goto swatches palette3) Select a radial gradient (or set the gradient type to radial via the gradi-ent palette)4) Go to the gradient tool5) Modify length etc using the gradi-ent tool fig. Original gradient swatch

fig. Change of original by shiftinggradient bar / sliderfig. Length increased

fig. Gradient length decreasedfig. Aspect ratio changed

Re-color pattern

The patterns can be re-colored via the recolor artwork palette also

1) Select path with pattern swatch2) Click recolor artwork3) Modify color (generates new swatch)

fig. Original swatch

fig. Recolored swatch (generatesnew swatch)

fig. Recolored swatch (generatesnew swatch)

fig. Recolored swatch (generatesnew swatch)

fig. Recolored swatch (generatesnew swatch)

Recolor gradient

The gradient swatch can be re-colored via the recolor artwork command. The individual stop colors can be changed

1) Select path with gradient swatch applied2) Click recolor artwork icon (top bar)3) Apply color changes4) OK.

fig. Original gradient

fig. Recolored artwork

fig. Recolored artworkSaturation randomized

fig. Recolored artwork

fig. Recolored artworkusing medieval

Opacity mask

The patterns can be used as an opacity mask.

1) Select path2) Transaprency palette3) Make Opacity Mask (menu)4) Select mask area5) Draw path with selected pattern6) Exit out of mask mode

fig. Pattern used as an opacity mask with the original patternbehind as well as plain blue background path

Export to other applications

The patterns and gradient filled paths can be exported to other applications, simply select the path with the fill and then copy to the pasteboard and paste into the other applica-tion. Apply effects etc as required

fig. Patterns from pack 5 from graphicxtras.com

Scribble applied to pattern

1) Select path with pattern2) Effects 3) Stylize4) Scribble5) Set as required

fig. Original pattern

fig. Child like scibble applied

fig. Swash scribble

fig. Pattern expanded via object > expand and thentrimmed via pathfinder and then the effect > stylize > scribble swash applied

Additional examples of the swatches

The examples of the gradients and patterns on the next few pages are from the Illustrator swatches packs from graphicxtras.com. The swatches packs are for commercial and personal use. Many different designs included

fig. Polka dots pack 9 from graphicxtras.com

fig. Polka dots pack

fig. Gradient swatch (pack 7)

fig. Gradient double fill (using gradients from pack 7)

fig. Pack 2 gradient

fig. Pack 1 gradient

fig. Star with pack 1 gradient

fig. Selection of gradients from pack 1Linear designs but can be quickly set to radial Length changed, angle changed etc

fig. Pack 3 gradient with aspect ratio of 50% applied

fig. Pack 10 X patterns

fig. Arrow patterns (pack 11 from graphicxtras.com)

fig. Pack 5 patterns from graphicxtras.com