Selection to Swatches

Script for Adobe Illustrator

✦ Available exclusively on Patreon for Pro supporters.

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Description

Selection to Swatches is an Adobe Illustrator script that automatically extracts colors and patterns from your selected objects and adds them to the Swatches panel. This powerful tool streamlines your workflow by eliminating the tedious manual process of creating swatches from your artwork.

The script intelligently detects and processes:

Gradient colors (linear and radial)
Solid colors (RGB, CMYK, Grayscale, and Lab)
Patterns (fill and stroke patterns)

It automatically removes duplicates, provides customizable naming options, and can organize extracted swatches into color groups for better organization.

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Features

Extract gradients, solid colors, and patterns from selected objects
Automatic duplicate detection - won't create swatches that already exist
Customizable swatch naming with auto-numbering
Choose between Process, Global, or Spot color types for solid colors
Optional color group creation for easy organization
Works with paths, compound paths, groups, and text frames
Processes both fill and stroke colors
User-friendly dialog interface with tooltips

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Installation

1. Download the Selection to Swatches.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.

4. The script will appear in Selection to Swatches.

5. Alternatively, you can run the script directly by going to File > Scripts > Other Script... and selecting the file from any location.

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User Guide

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Prepare Your Document

Open an Adobe Illustrator document
Select one or more objects that contain the colors or patterns you want to extract

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You can select paths, compound paths, groups, or text frames
The script will analyze both fill and stroke colors

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Run the Script

Go to File > Scripts > Selection to Swatches
The script will analyze your selection and open a dialog window

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Configure Swatch Options

The dialog window is divided into four sections:

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➊ Solid Color Swatches

Checkbox: Enable/disable solid color extraction
Swatch name: Enter a base name for color swatches (default: "Color")
Swatches will be auto-numbered (e.g., "Color 1", "Color 2")

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Color Type: Choose how solid colors should be created:
Process: Regular process colors (default)
Global: Global process colors that update throughout the document when modified
Spot: Spot colors for special printing processes

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➋ Gradient Swatches

Checkbox: Enable/disable gradient extraction
Swatch name: Enter a base name for gradient swatches (default: "Gradient")
Swatches will be auto-numbered (e.g., "Gradient 1", "Gradient 2")

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➌ Pattern Swatches

Checkbox: Enable/disable pattern extraction
Swatch name: Enter a base name for pattern swatches (default: "Pattern")
Swatches will be auto-numbered (e.g., "Pattern 1", "Pattern 2")

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➍ Color Group Options

Checkbox: Enable to create a color group containing all extracted swatches
Group name: Enter a name for the color group (default: "Selection Colors")

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➎ Extract Swatches

Click OK to extract swatches based on your settings
The script will process your selection and display a summary of results
Open the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches) to see your new swatches

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Review Results

After processing, you'll see a confirmation message showing:

Total number of swatches added
Breakdown by type (gradients, solid colors, patterns)
Color group creation status (if enabled)

If no new swatches were added, the script will explain why (e.g., no colors found or all colors already exist).

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Tips & Best Practices

Selective Extraction: Uncheck swatch types you don't need to keep your Swatches panel organized
Custom Naming: Use descriptive base names like "Logo Colors" or "Brand Gradients" for better organization
Global Colors: Use Global color type when you want to update colors across multiple objects simultaneously
Color Groups: Enable color group creation to keep related swatches organized and easy to find
Duplicate Prevention: The script automatically skips colors that already exist in your Swatches panel

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Conclusion

The Selection to Swatches script streamlines your Adobe Illustrator workflow by instantly converting colors, gradients, and patterns from selected artwork into organized swatches. With features like automatic duplicate detection and custom naming, it ensures your Swatches panel remains clean and project-ready.

Start using this script today to save time and maintain consistent color management across your designs.

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#Color

Previous

Selection to Swatches

Version: 1.0.4

Updated: February 21, 2026

Download Selection to Swatches

1.0.0 – Initial release.
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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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Your Complete Adobe Illustrator Productivity Hub

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

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➍ Favourites

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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 Selection to Swatches.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 Selection to Swatches.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 Selection to Swatches script to run it.
5. The Selection to Swatches 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.

🅰 Locating the Scripts Folder
To install a Selection to Swatches.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).
ㅤ
🅱 Installing the Script
1. Copy the Script File: Copy the Selection to Swatches.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.
ㅤ
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 Selection to Swatches script to run it.
5. The Selection to Swatches 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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