Is it possible to link colors in my Photoshop CC Library?

[chrish87945221]

My co-worker and I are finally learning how to use the CC Library, and we cannot figure out (if it's even possible) how to link color swatches, so updating the swatch would in turn update every use of it in the current document?

For instance, I'm building a blog layout in my Photoshop. I want to try out different color themes for the buttons/accent colors. Ideally, I want to update the color swatches in my library so I don't have to go through the entire document and change each shape's color one by one. Is this possible?

[davescm]

I don't know a way to do that in Photoshop. Replace colour would work on pixel layers but not shapes.

In Illustrator you can set colours to be "Global" in swatch options. These, if changed, change the colour wherever it is used in the document. They don't link to the library but it would be easy to change a global swatch to match a library color.

Dave

[c.pfaffenbichler · Accepted solution]

As davescm has mentioned: Not at current.

Photoshop still is primarily a pixel oriented image editor and within that context the concept would not make a terrible lot of sense.

But Feature Requests have been made and you may want to add your support:

Photoshop: Supporting Global Color on the Swatches panel | Photoshop Family Customer Community

Smart Colors - Global Color Swatches | Photoshop Family Customer Community

Possible work-arounds could be grouping the affected Layers and applying Colour Overlay to the Group or using Smart Object instances (flat color rectangle) Clipping Masked to the affected Layers.

[Theresa J]

There is no direct way to link back to swatches in the library.

Here is a work around. Create a color fill layer or shape layer, and then add that layer to a CC Library. Use the color fill graphic to color blend or tint objects in your Photoshop documents by dragging the graphic from the Library to the document. This will link back to the Library. When you want to change the color, double click on the graphic in the Library panel (the color fill layer) and it will open as a Photoshop document. Change the color and close and save it. The changed color will get updated in any document where the graphic was used.

[davescm]

Thanks Theresa - that is a really useful workaround.

Dave