Photoshop Elements: How to Load Color Swatches

Send article Send article Print article Print article

Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 6

April 7, 2008

In this lesson, learn how to load the color swatches that are installed with Photoshop Elements and custom swatches that you have downloaded and stored on your computer.

Color swatch sets will have file extensions of .ACO, .ACT or .ASE. A fun way to create your own color swatch set is to use kuler, a free Web service from Adobe Labs that enables you to choose color themes for your Web site or Web creations.

Load Installed Color Swatches

The installed color swatches are easily accessible from the Color Swatches palette.

To load installed color swatches:

  1. From the Window menu, select Color Swatches. The Color Swatches palette is displayed.

    Load installed swatches
  2. From the drop-down menu, select a color swatch set. The color swatch set will replace the current swatches in the palette.

Load Custom Swatches

When you download custom swatches, remember the folder location of the swatches on your computer. You'll need that location to load the swatches into Photoshop Elements.

To load custom swatches:

  1. From the Window menu, select Color Swatches. The Color Swatches palette is displayed.

    Load custom swatches
  2. Click the More arrow at the top right of the Color Swatches Palette. (If the palette is docked, click the double arrows at the top right.)

  3. Select Load Swatches.

    Note: Loading swatches will append the swatches to the current swatches in the palette. If you want to replace the current colors with a custom swatch set, select Replace Swatches instead.

  4. In the Load window, browse to find the directory where you stored the color swatches. Then, select the color swatch set and click Load.
For permission to use an article or resource for educational or non-profit purposes, please contact me at karenb@alibony.com. Commercial use is not permitted.

Updated on November 9, 2009