Photoshop Elements > Basic Swatches

Swatches are groups, or libraries, of colors.

They're located in the Color Swatches panel in the panel bin.

If you don't see the Color Swatches panel, go to Window > Color Swatches.

Photoshop Elements comes with several swatch libraries.

You can add more, such as the _Burning & Dodging Swatches below.

Take Colors from a

Color Swatch Library

Click on a color swatch to select the foreground color.

Make sure the cursor is an eyedropper.

If you press and hold Ctrl, and click on a color swatch, the background color is selected.

Install My Swatches

You'll want to save colors so you can use them later.

You can save the color swatches in My Swatches.

Do the following.

1) Download My Swatches.aco.

2) Copy and paste the file into the Photoshop Elements' Color Swatches folder.

Use one of the pathways below.

Windows

C: > Program Files > Adobe > Photoshop Elements > Presets > Color Swatches

Mac

Applications > Adobe Photoshop Elements > Presets > Color Swatches

3) Close and restart Photoshop Elements.

My Swatches will be in the menu in the Color Swatches panel.

Add a Color Swatch

To My Swatches

You can add colors to My Swatches.

Do the following.

1) Select My Swatches in the Color Swatches panel.

2) Select a color with the Eyedropper tool.

3) Move the cursor over the color swatch library.

4) The cursor will change to a paint bucket icon.

Make sure the cursor is a paint bucket.

5) Click.

Save Changes to a

My Swatches

If you add colors to My Swatches, the colors are deleted when you close Photoshop Elements.

You must save the color swatch library.

Do the following.

1) Select a color swatch library, but not the Default library.

2) Click the icon in the top-right corner of the Color Swatches panel.

2) Select Save Swatches.

The save window will open.

3) Select My Swatches in the Save window.

4) Click Save.

Delete a Color Swatch

From My Swatches

To delete a color swatch from My Swatches, use one of the methods below.

Then, save My Swatches, as described above.

Method #1

Click and hold the color swatch, and drag it to the trash-can icon at the bottom of the Color Swatches panel.

Method #2

Right click on the color swatch, and select Delete Color swatch.

Method #3

Press and hold Alt, and place the cursor over the color swatch.

The cursor will change to a scissors.

Click.

Again, Save My Swatches

Be sure to save My Swatches, as described above.

Color Swatch Libraries

From Color Tables

You can create a color swatch library from color tables.

Go to Custom Swatches.