Detach Global Colors

Detach Global Colors

Script for Adobe Illustrator

✦ Available exclusively on Patreon for Pro supporters.

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Description

Detach Global Colors is a powerful Adobe Illustrator script that breaks the connection between artwork and global color swatches by converting spot colors and global colors to regular RGB colors. This process maintains the visual appearance of your artwork while removing dependencies on global swatches, giving you complete freedom to modify colors independently.

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Installation

1. Download the Detach Global Colors.jsx script file.

2. Place the script in your Adobe Illustrator Scripts folder:

⮑ Mac: /Applications/Adobe Illustrator <Version>/Presets/<Language>/Scripts

⮑ Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <Version>\Presets\<Language>\Scripts

3. Restart Adobe Illustrator if it's already running.

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Using the Script

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➊ Prepare Your Artwork

  1. Open Your Document: Launch Adobe Illustrator and open the file containing global colors
  2. Select Target Objects: Choose the artwork you want to process.
  3. Access the script via File > Scripts > Detach Global Colors.
  4. The script presents a dialog with multiple options:

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image gallery

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➋ Choose Your Conversion Method

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🅰 Detach All Global Colors

  • When to Use: Converting entire documents or when you want to remove all global color dependencies.
  • What It Does: Automatically converts every detected global and spot color to RGB.
  • Advantage: Fast, comprehensive, no manual selection required.
  • Best For: Print-to-digital conversions, file cleanup, complete independence from global swatches.

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🅱 Detach Selected Global Colors

  • When to Use: When you need to preserve some global colors while converting others.
  • What It Does: Shows a detailed list of found colors for individual selection.
  • Advantage: Granular control, selective conversion, maintains some global relationships.
  • Best For: Partial conversions, testing purposes, maintaining brand color integrity.

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➌ Using the Enhanced Color Selection 

If you chose "Detach Selected Global Colors," you'll see an advanced interface:

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Color List Management

  • Complete List: View all detected global and spot colors with their exact names.
  • Multi-Selection: Click individual colors or use Ctrl/Cmd+click for multiple selections.
  • Visual Feedback: Selected colors are highlighted for easy identification.

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Search and Filter System

  • Search Box: Type any part of a color name to instantly filter the list.
  • Real-Time Filtering: Results update as you type, showing only matching colors.
  • Case-Insensitive: Search works regardless of capitalization.
  • Clear Filter: Click the "✖" button to remove filters and show all colors again.

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Quick Selection Tools

  • Select All: Chooses every color currently visible in the list (works with filtered results).
  • Select None: Deselects all colors in the current view.
  • Invert Selection: Switches selected and unselected states for all visible colors.

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➍ Execute the Conversion

  1. Review Your Choices: Ensure you've selected the correct conversion method and colors.
  2. Click OK: Start the conversion process.
  3. Processing: The script analyzes and converts colors in the background.
  4. Results: A confirmation dialog shows which colors were successfully converted.

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What Problem Does This Script Solve?

In Adobe Illustrator, global colors and spot colors are linked across your entire document. When you modify a global swatch, every object using that color updates automatically. While this is useful for brand consistency, it can become problematic when you need to:

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  • Create color variations without affecting the original swatch.
  • Prepare files for clients who don't need global color management.
  • Convert print-ready files with spot colors to RGB for digital use.
  • Break color dependencies for independent artwork modifications.
  • Clean up documents with unnecessary global color complexity.

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Detach Global Colors

Version: 1.0.3

Updated:

Download Detach Global Colors

  • 1.0.0 – Initial release.
    1.0.1 – Fixed an issue that prevented Global Colors from being converted to regular solid colors in CMYK Color Mode.

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    Tested on MacOS:

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    • Adobe Illustrator 2023 (27.0)
    • Adobe Illustrator 2024 (28.1)
    • Adobe Illustrator 2025 (29.0)

  • Supported Versions:

    • Compatible with Adobe Illustrator CS6 and later, including Adobe Illustrator CC versions.

    Operating Systems:

    • Works on both macOS and Windows platforms.

  • End User License Agreement (EULA)

    Last Updated: 21.12.2024

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    This End User License Agreement (“Agreement”) is a legal agreement between you (“User” or “Licensee”) and Samolevsky.com (“Licensor”) regarding the use of the Adobe Illustrator scripts (“Software”). By downloading, installing, or using the Software, you agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.

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    1. Grant of License

    Licensor grants the User a non-exclusive, non-transferable, and revocable license to use the Software in accordance with this Agreement.

    • Free Software: If the Software is provided for free, you may use it for personal or commercial purposes without payment, subject to the restrictions outlined in this Agreement.
    • Paid Software: If the Software is provided for a fee, you may use it only after payment has been made in full.

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    2. Usage Rights

    You are permitted to:

    • Install and use the Software on devices you own or control.
    • Use the Software in your personal or commercial projects, subject to compliance with this Agreement.

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    3. Restrictions

    You may NOT:

    • Reverse engineer, decompile, or otherwise attempt to discover the source code, underlying ideas, or algorithms of the Software.
    • Reuse, incorporate, or integrate any portion of the Software into any other software, product, or project, except as expressly permitted by the Licensor in writing.
    • Resell, redistribute, or share the Software, whether in its original or modified form, without prior written consent from the Licensor.
    • Claim ownership of the Software or its underlying code.
    • Use the Software in any way that violates applicable laws or regulations.

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    4. Ownership

    The Software and all intellectual property rights therein remain the exclusive property of the Licensor. This Agreement does not transfer ownership of the Software or any intellectual property rights to the User.

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    5. Disclaimer of Warranties

    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES, OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

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    6. Limitation of Liability

    To the maximum extent permitted by law, Licensor shall not be liable for any damages, including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, arising out of or related to the use or inability to use the Software.

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    7. Termination

    This Agreement is effective until terminated. Licensor may terminate this Agreement immediately if you breach any term of this Agreement. Upon termination, you must cease all use of the Software and destroy any copies in your possession.

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    8. Updates and Support

    Licensor is not obligated to provide updates, support, or maintenance for the Software. However, updates may be provided at the sole discretion of the Licensor.

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    9. Governing Law

    This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

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    10. Entire Agreement

    This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Licensor concerning the Software and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings regarding such subject matter.

    By using the Software, you acknowledge that you have read this Agreement, understand it, and agree to be bound by its terms.

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    For any questions or concerns regarding this Agreement, please contact us at hello@samolevsky.com

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Introducing ScriptBox

Your Complete Adobe Illustrator Productivity Hub

Install Extension

➊ Toolbox

Access to 200+ pre-built scripts organized in categories.

➋ Script Launcher

Load and manage third-party scripts from custom folders.

➌ Panel Manager

Quick access to toggle Adobe Illustrator's built-in panels

➍ Favourites

Save frequently used scripts and panels for quick access.

➎ Code Editor

Write, edit, and execute custom ExtendScript/JavaScript code.

➏ Task Manager

An integrated to-do list that helps you track design tasks and jot down your ideas.

➐ Video Player

Create your own personal video library and watch YouTube videos right within the extension.

➑ Image Gallery

A visual moodboard allowing you to keep inspiration and reference materials right in your workspace while you design.

☻ Info

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Required Software

Adobe Illustrator

Learn more

Adobe Illustrator is a professional vector graphics software developed by Adobe Inc. It is widely used by designers, illustrators, and artists for creating a variety of digital artwork, including logos, icons, illustrations, typography, and complex design layouts. Illustrator is known for its precision and scalability, allowing users to create high-quality graphics that can be resized without losing clarity. Its features include powerful drawing tools, customizable brushes, advanced typography options, and seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Illustrator is a go-to tool for creative professionals working on projects for print, web, and multimedia platforms.

  • 🅰 Locating the Scripts Folder

    To install a Detach Global Colors.jsx script in Adobe Illustrator, you need to place it in the correct directory where Illustrator
can recognize it. Follow these steps to locate the Scripts folder:

    1. MacOS:
      Open Finder and navigate to:
      Applications/Adobe Illustrator <Version>/Presets/<Language>/Scripts
    2. Windows:
      Open File Explorer and navigate to:
      C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <Version>\Presets\<Language>\Scripts
    3. Replace <Version> with your Adobe Illustrator version (e.g., 2025).
    4. Replace <Language> with your language folder (e.g., "de_DE" for German, "en_US" for English).

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    🅱 Installing the Script

    1. Copy the Script File: Copy the Detach Global Colors.jsx file to the Scripts folder located in the path above.
    2. On some systems, you may need administrator permissions to modify the Scripts folder.
    3. Restart Adobe Illustrator: To refresh the scripts menu, close and reopen Adobe Illustrator.

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    Explore our complete guide to mastering Adobe Illustrator scripts.

    1. Open Adobe Illustrator and ensure a document is active.
    2. Go to the top menu bar and select File > Scripts.
    3. If the script is installed in the Scripts folder, it will appear in the dropdown list.
    4. Click the Detach Global Colors script to run it.
    5. The Detach Global Colors script will execute, and any dialog boxes or results will appear based on the script’s functionality.

    ☻ Before running any scripts, it’s strongly advised to save your work — especially when working with complex or large documents.

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