Using graphic style libraries


    You can import graphic styles from other files into the Graphic Styles palette associated with the current file using the Graphic Style Libraries command. The libraries listed in the Style Libraries submenu are stored in the Illustrator/Presets/Graphic Styles folder inside the Adobe Illustrator application folder.

    You cannot add, delete, or edit graphic styles in a library; however, once you add a graphic style to the Graphic Styles palette or apply a graphic style to an object in a document, you can change the graphic style's attributes using the Appearance palette. If you select a graphic style in the Graphic Styles palette or an object that uses a graphic style, the Appearance palette lists the graphic style's attributes. You can select an attribute in the palette and modify it. (See Using the Appearance palette.)

To import a graphic style from a graphic style library to a document:

  1. Open the Graphic Styles palette.
  2. Open the document to which you want to add a graphic style.
  3. Choose Window > Graphic Style Libraries > Style Library name. To locate a graphic style library not stored in the default location or to open the graphic styles in a different Illustrator file, choose Window > Graphic Style Libraries > Other Library.
  4. Select a graphic style you want, and then do one of the following:
    • Use the selected graphic style in the current artwork (recommended for one or two graphic styles at a time). Once you use it in the artwork, the graphic style is copied from the Graphic Styles Library to the Graphic Styles palette.
    • Drag the selected graphic style to the current Graphic Styles palette (recommended for multiple graphic styles at a time). To select adjacent graphic styles, Shift-click; to select nonadjacent graphic styles, Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac OS).

To create a graphic style library:

  1. Create or locate a file that contains the graphic styles you want to save in the graphic style library.
  2. Tip iconTo reduce the library's file size, delete all unused swatches, brushes, symbols, and graphic styles in a document.

  3. Do one of the following:
    • To add the new graphic style library to the Graphic Style Libraries menu, save or drag the file into the IllustratorPresets/Graphic Styles folder inside the Illustrator application folder. Quit and then restart the application.
    • To not list the new graphic style library in the Graphic Style Libraries menu, save the file elsewhere. To open and use it, choose Window > Graphic Style Libraries > Other Library, and navigate to the location where you saved the file.