How do I find a used color

[ishiiboy]

I have a color that is being used somewere in the document, but I can't find it. I have chosen "select unused colors" from the swatches pallet and deleted them. Unfortunately, I am left with colors that have been used that I can't see being used anywhere. I tried creating a box using the the suspect colors and then chose "select:same:fill color", select:same:stroke color and came up with nothing. Where are these colors being used?

Also, I have a situation where colors have been used in the document, but have not been added to the swatches pallet. As an example, a four color black has been used in a two color document. I didn't know this and it caused headaches at the printer. Is there a way to tell Illustrator to name all used colors?

 

[itchybug]

Ishii:

The colors that are shown as used can be found either in empty text objects (A stray text anchor without any content still carries font and color info), or in this case (You already did a search for same color so text anchors would have been found) the colors are in use in a brush, style, symbol or swatch, including gradient swatches and pattern swatches. Similarly, it can sometimes happen that you cannot delete a brush or pattern because it's being used in a symbol or style, so this type of issue exists in many other permutations.

HTH

Bert

http://www.itchybug.com

 

[tperkins]

There could also be an object filled that is behind another object and hidden, in this case I make another object then fill it with the suspect color and with that new object selected I choose "select all same fill colors" if the a hidden object is filled then it will select it also and you can find it and take care of the problem. If there is no result then try the same procedure with the outline.

Tony Perkins

 

[itchybug]

Tony:

I believe the OP already did that...

Bert

http://www.itchybug.com

 

[ishiiboy]

Illustrator will let me delete the color. It just gives me a dialog asking me if I am sure that I want to do so. The reason that I feel that the color is suspect is that I have already selected "select unused colors" from the swatch menu and deleted them which leads me to believe what is remaining is being used. Is that not necessarily the case?

Also, when I go to the print dialog and select "output settings" I see the suspect colors in the list, but not printer icons next to them.