Illustrator - Recolor patterns quickly and easily

[@ruvarashemakunda8855]

thank you!!!!! I've spent ages trying to figure this ONE thing out and your video is the only one that explains it!!! So simply as well.

[@HelenBradley]

I’m so glad that you found the video and that it helped you!

[@matslangeid4551]

Ahh fantastic Helen! Clicking that little dash to be able to change color was the thing I was looking for!

[@HelenBradley]

So glad to be of help.

[@tgktgkify]

It's ridiculous and SO unintuitive, isn't it?!

[@LilyLiseno1992]

wow. i was searching the internet forever trying to figure this out and should have just came to this video first. THANK YOU!

[@HelenBradley]

Glad I could help!

[@nositelle]

I have learnt something again: I didn't know about the little dash in the dialogue box which has to be transformed into an arrow so that we can change the color. thank you Helen.

[@HelenBradley]

Thank you for your kind words! More videos will be uploaded soon. If you ever have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment or two!

[@nurdan17]

OMG! This is soooo useful!! Thank you for showing this super easy method! I was struggling with it for ages!

[@HelenBradley]

You're so welcome!

[@killroy89]

Great video, no fuzz, straight on! I like it and will look into you're other things!

[@HelenBradley]

So happy to hear this.

[@jessicamoura1137]

This is brilliant, thanks Helen! Whenever I look for help about illustrator your videos always show up in my search results :)

[@HelenBradley]

You’re welcome - that's so nice to hear.

[@Iwtbaf]

thank you so much!! people like you are what keep me going.

[@HelenBradley]

Happy to help!

[@hitherandyonstudio]

Awesome. I have been looking for THIS exact thing and you did it quickly and simply! Thank you.

[@HelenBradley]

So happy to hear this.

[@daniels3404]

You saved my life Helen. I love you

[@HelenBradley]

So happy to hear this.

[@jessebradley1209]

I didn't think you could change those black and white patterns. This was very helpful. Thanks Again!

[@HelenBradley]

Thanks Jesse!

[@GigiVisacri]

I was having trouble trying to figure out how to do this, but knew you'd have the solution, Helen. Your videos are always super helpful, thanks again!

[@HelenBradley]

Happy to help! I'd hate to let you down.

[@toncis]

Fantastic Hellen! Thanks!

[@HelenBradley]

You are so welcome!

[@mauriciomorales8935]

Thank you for this tutorial! I've wasted so much time trying to figure this out.

[@HelenBradley]

Glad it helped!

[@OctoberPepper]

Thank you so much! I've been strugling to achieve that.

[@HelenBradley]

Glad I could help!

[@kenetjafethgallegosleiva557]

I was looking for this in different ways. I made my day. Thanks!

[@HelenBradley]

Awesome news! Thank you for letting me know this helped you.

[@Adefemmy]

Easy and quick tip, thank you very much

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome!

[@rokhyrokhy5319]

THANK YOU Helen! you're amazing.thanks again.

[@HelenBradley]

You are welcome! I'm so happy the tutorials help you! Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@kaleighnuyttens5269]

Thank you for the instructions in this video! Is there a way to change the white background of the pattern?

[@HelenBradley]

If you are seeing the white artboard through the pattern then place a colored rectangle behind it. If the white is actually in the pattern you can change it using the Recolor artwork tool.

This is so helpful and so well explained! Thank you so much! Great work :D

[@HelenBradley]

Glad it was helpful!

[@paurushikesari5083]

Very helpful, specially to tell us to click dash button. Thank you very much!

[@HelenBradley]

I’m so glad the video was of help to you. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@Saji_Mohamed]

aweseom i was searching for this whole day

[@HelenBradley]

So glad you found the video. Thanks for stopping by my channel.

[@dcmdetects]

Thank you, Helen, for another very informative video!

[@HelenBradley]

I am glad the video was helpful! Thank you for taking the time to check out my channel.

[@ranasart]

This is the only video that show exactly how it actually works.

[@HelenBradley]

I am so glad you found this video and that it worked for you.

[@baligabalaga364]

Thank you so much Helen ❤️

[@HelenBradley]

You are so welcome

[@dianapark1750]

Thank you! It worked.

[@HelenBradley]

Glad it helped

[@discoghost6168]

Clear as water. Thanks.

[@HelenBradley]

Thank you! I am so happy it helped.

[@stardust047]

Hi Helen, in this example you turned the black lines purple, but what if instead of purple and white, you wanted purple and pink for example? how would you make the white gaps between the lines change color?

[@HelenBradley]

It depends. In this example the 'white gaps' are the artboard so you can simply make a rectangle the size of the artboard and fill it with the color to use. Then place that rectangle behind the pattern and it will 'fill the gaps'. Let me know if you still have questions?

[@JadeMicheleGriffin]

Thank you Helen. How can I change the color of the details in a pattern? thanks so much.

[@HelenBradley]

Jade, this process doesn't allow you to change things that are already the same color in the pattern. If you need to change a piece of a pattern (and not the rest) then you'll need to drag the pattern swatch out of the swatches panel, make your change and then select everything and return it to the swatches panel. Let me know if you need more help?

[@teevives3.0]

thank you helen, i dont know about the little arrow

[@HelenBradley]

So glad to be able to help - that little arrow is so important as it lets you control recoloring the colors.

[@yasirjaved6677]

Thanks a lot.! Really helpful. :)

[@HelenBradley]

Glad it helped!

[@levk6688]

thank you been tryıng to fıgure this out for hour

[@HelenBradley]

Oh my goodness, I am so glad you found this.

[@rocheuro]

thank you , did it it 3 minutes! saved ma tooons of time! cheers!

[@HelenBradley]

Awesome news. Thank you so much for letting me know.

[@محمدالعوادي-س2ظ]

Thanks It was helpful.

[@HelenBradley]

Glad it helped

[@DesignbyLaney]

Super helpful video- I like this!

[@HelenBradley]

I am so glad you like this video, thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@mrunaliniob9030]

Thank you 🙌

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome 😊

[@Nina-si1ht]

Thank you so much for sharing!

[@HelenBradley]

You are so welcome!

[@hosenissa4484]

I searched alot to know how can I recolor pattern ... thank you very much

[@HelenBradley]

Glad it was helpful!

[@atouchofdazzle1061]

Hi Helen, I love your tutorials - you are so clear and talented! I'm having an issue with saving a pattern that I've recolored to use in another document. It reverts to its original colors when I export or save the swatch panel. Have you come across this issue?

[@HelenBradley]

WOAH, I have not seen this before. What version of Illustrator are you using and PC or Mac. I would like to try and replicate this.

[@marcoantoniobetti]

Thanks, thanks, thanks! Success for you.

[@HelenBradley]

I am very pleased to hear that you enjoyed the tutorial! Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@acetone6583]

Hi, I have a question for the method, I have created a pattern in Adobe illustrator and save it as a copy, trying to recolor it in edit color, but the check of recolor option is gray out. is there something wrong? trying to edit it, but doesn't work.

[@HelenBradley]

Do you have something selected when you click the Recolor Artwork option? There is also a brand new video today on how to recolor patterns you might like to check out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4q3XqCYp7Fkp68 Let me know if you still have problems.

[@acetone6583]

Helen Bradley thanks for your patient reply, I have selected the pattern, but the recolor art is gray out anyway. Now I’m reaching out to adobe remote assistant

[@HelenBradley]

Ok, so let me know how you go? You can always send me your pattern file if you like and I'll check it out. Send it to [e-mail] and make sure to remind me what your question/problem is.

[@hodongsung]

OMG.... Helen thank you so much again!!! your method is so simple and quick that I feel like I've been doing it such a wrong and hard way 😅

[@HelenBradley]

You are so welcome!

[@sunmarsh]

So helpful- thank you so much!

[@HelenBradley]

You're so welcome!

[@aminyassin1250]

Fantastic, thanks

[@HelenBradley]

Awesome Amin. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@DanielBeattyDefinition]

super helpful

[@HelenBradley]

Glad it helped

[@superpoodlehead]

I want to use a color swatch in my color group. How do I apply it to the pattern?

[@HelenBradley]

Double click on the color to change in the Recolor Artwork dialog and you get a color picker, there is an option to choose a swatch color so use that and navigate to find and select the color in that you want to use. If you have a few colors it's easy, if you have lots is can be tricky BUT if you drag your color group in your swatches panel to the very bottom it will be easier to find because the list is sorted in the same order as the swatches panel.

[@superpoodlehead]

Helen Bradley Thanks! I will try this!

[@jhonasiraboy1285]

Hi maam where can i find the recolor command in 2020 version,?

[@HelenBradley]

The Recolor Artwork command is exactly where it has been for years and years. You will need to have something selected before you look up on the Control Bar at the top of the screen and find it there. I hope this helps?

[@lena.grotter]

thank you so much!

[@HelenBradley]

Glad it helped!

[@fizzedupslade4082]

Great vid, really useful tool. Big UP Helen Bradley :D

[@HelenBradley]

Thank you for your kind comment.

[@royaleguru]

Thanks a lot!!!

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome!

[@akalli]

Hi Helen. I don't suppose you can apply a gradient to those patterns, can you? I'd like to make my patterned document a bit more interesting than changing the black to just another solid color. I'd like to have a gradient be applied to the black part of the pattern. Can this be done? Thanks in advance. Edit: While I was able to apply a gradient to the individual shape that makes up the pattern, I was hoping for a more expanded colorization, such as on a 1920 x1080 document the gradient would be applied to the black part of the pattern that sweeps from the left side to the right side of the document. Does that make sense? I don't want the gradient to be applied to each individual shape that makes up the pattern. Is this by any chance covered in your paid courses? I've been thinking I need to buy some of those and get more of your good stuff!

[@HelenBradley]

Great question Andrea. Now, of course, I don't want to stop you from buying my courses! :) So, seriously, if you want any of my Udemy courses, let me know and I'll send you a lowest available price coupon - just tell me which course(s) you want. Here is a Skillshare referral link for a 'best value' sign up deal: www.skillshare.com/r/user/helenbradley As for these patterns, if the pattern is, for example, stripes with a 'see through' background you can make a rectangle and fill it with a gradient and place it behind the design and it will work just fine. Now, to fill the actual black bits with a gradient is a bit more tricky, but I do have a solution for you. I'll make a video and launch it late this week on the channel for you. Keep an eye out for it?

[@akalli]

@@HelenBradley most definitely i need to grab some of your paid training. Is the same material on Udemy as what you have on Skillshare, so it doesn't really make a difference which site i choose to get them from? Yes, you've got that right. I want to apply the sweeping gradient across the whole document on just the black part. Looking forward to your video!

[@HelenBradley]

Andrea, some of the Udemy content is duplicated from Skillshare and some is original to Udemy. That said, probably if you want a big amount of content for a single price, then it might be better to go with Skillshare.

[@akalli]

@@HelenBradley i just snagged the Skillshare membership. I'm interested in making my own custom backgrounds. Some things I've been trying out have been working with the gradient mesh tool with the twirl tool. It looks to create very interesting flowy designs, but the twirl tool sometimes doesn't work all the time on all parts for me. Anyway, that's just some of what I'd like to learn more about. My problem is that I want to fly before I walk. I don't have the patience to learn the beginning steps, even though I know I should.

[@HelenBradley]

I am totally with you Andrea. I want to fly before I walk too, but sometimes, going back to basics works too - I think a bit of each is idea. I hope you really enjoy your Skillshare classes.

[@mammi3577]

Thank you a lot

[@HelenBradley]

You are welcome

[@arifaellinaariffin3251]

Hi Helen, I was wondering how do I get the colour to be in the inverse of the pattern? Im colouring dots for my pattern but I want the dots to be white and the background blue, is there a method of colouring the pattern and the background separately?

[@HelenBradley]

Arifa, I'm not sure what you're asking? If you have a shape with a pattern on top of a shape with your background color you can just recolor them as shown in the video for the pattern. Select the shape for the background and change its color as you would any shape fill. Now I am sure I am misreading your question, so, if you can explain it to me again I might be able to help?

[@wiambecharef1705]

Thank you

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome

[@Somabilbooks]

First Thnk You Helen Bradley

[@HelenBradley]

You are welcome! I am glad the tutorial was helpful for you! Thank you for checking out my channel.

[@charltonarts3023]

Wonderful

[@HelenBradley]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for stopping by.

[@alfrizalyoga816]

Thankyou

[@HelenBradley]

You’re welcome 😊

[@akmalhafizhhaqqani4207]

Thank you very much Madam

[@HelenBradley]

My pleasure!

[@aliabiya1297]

U R the legend

[@HelenBradley]

Thank you so much for your kind comments

[@sheikhmuhammadadnan3]

Nice

[@HelenBradley]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@TomiVisuals684]

illustrator 1999 ?

[@HelenBradley]

No, it is Illustrator CC.

[@tgktgkify]

God, could Adobe make Illustrator any LESS intuitive?! It is ridiculous that we have to hunt for answers to such simple tasks. Like almost everyone else who is forced ("it's the industry standard, don't you know!") to use this hideous application, I hate it and very much look forward to its eventual demise.

[@vaishnavibhartia5658]

Thanks so much!

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome!

[@mariahfaizal1360]

thank u so much!

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome!

[@tayebrahmani3012]

thank you

[@HelenBradley]

My pleasure.