Help - pasting object adds new colour swatch(es)...

[whalton]

Hi All

Using AI 10, and when I copy and paste an object from within a document, it automatically adds a new swatch/swatches (with a new name) to my swatch palette, even though the object is already using an existing named swatch from the palette (grad/fill/whatever). I therefore end up with a load of swatches that are identical. For example if I paste the same item 3 times, it adds three new swatches, and to be honest it's getting pretty irritating! Anyone know what I can do to prevent it? Any helpful suggestions gratefully accepted! Cheers, Whalton.

 

[RegistrationMark]

If the colors are the same, just tell Illustrator to Merge Swatches upon pasting.
Mark

 

[whalton]

Hi Mark

Thanks for answering. However, it's not happening when pasting spot colours, or when copying and pasting from another document. Only when pasting objects with a gradient fill, and from within the same document, so it doesn't come up with the 'same name swatch' alert with the associated options (add swatch/merge swatch). For example, I create an object, fill it with a named gradient (e.g 'Blue Gradient'), copy it, paste it, and it adds another swatch 'New Swatch 1' to the swatch palette, which is identical the same as the original 'Gradient Blue'. In a document with a lot of gradients, and lots of copying and pasting, the swatch palette gets very full very quickly! I can't believe it won't recognise that the pasted object is filled with the same gradient as the copied object...