How to create color swatches in Photoshop CC 2020

Create Colour Swatches from Images in Photoshop CC 2020

Learn how to turn photos into colour swatches by sampling colors directly from images, and how to relieve your colors as custom swatch sets, in the latest version of Photoshop CC!

In the previous tutorial, we learned all near the improved Swatches panel in Photoshop CC 2020. Nosotros looked at Photoshop'due south new default color swatches, and the new ways to drag and drib colors from the Swatches panel direct into the document.

This time, I show yous how easy it is to create your own color swatches in Photoshop. Specifically, y'all'll larn how to create swatches by sampling colors from an epitome. You lot'll besides learn how to organize your swatches into custom sets. And along the mode, I'll prove you a simple trick you lot tin utilize to reduce the number of colors in your image so that choosing colors becomes a whole lot easier.

For best results with this tutorial, you'll need Photoshop CC 2020. If y'all're already using Photoshop CC, make sure that your copy is upward to appointment.

The certificate setup

To follow along with me, go ahead and open any prototype. I'll use this image that I downloaded from Adobe Stock:

The original image open in Photoshop. Image credit: Adobe Stock

The original image. Photo credit: Adobe Stock.

Let's get started!

How to reduce the number of colors in the image

Before we start sampling colors from the image, let's look at how to brand the process of selecting colors easier by reducing the number of colors we can cull from. To exercise that, we'll pixelate the epitome. This step is not absolutely necessary, merely you may find information technology helpful.

Step 1: Indistinguishable the image layer

In the Layers panel, nosotros come across my image on the Groundwork layer:

The Layers panel in Photoshop showing the original image on the Background layer

The Layers panel showing the original image.

We need to brand a copy of the image so nosotros don't damage the original. One way to do that is to click on the Background layer (or whichever layer your image is sitting on) and drag it down onto the Add together New Layer icon:

How to duplicate a layer in Photoshop

Dragging the image onto the Add New Layer icon.

Release your mouse button, and a copy of the layer appears in a higher place the original:

Photoshop's Layers panel showing the Background copy layer

A copy of the image appears.

Learn all about layers in Photoshop with our Consummate Guide!

Step 2: Select the Mosaic filter

To pixelate the image, become up to the Filter menu in the Menu Bar, choose Pixelate, and then choose Mosaic:

Choosing the Mosaic filter in Photoshop

Going to Filter > Pixelate > Mosaic.

Pace 3: Suit the Cell Size value

In the Mosaic filter's dialog box, the Cell Size selection at the bottom determines the number of squares, or "pixels", that the image volition be divided into. Photoshop averages the colors in the image and fills each square with a single color.

Drag the slider along the bottom to adapt the Cell Size value to the desired setting. I'll increase the value to 80, simply yous may demand a different value depending on the size of your prototype. Click OK when you're done to close the dialog box:

Adjusting the Cell Size value for the Mosaic filter in Photoshop

Adjusting the Cell Size value.

Here's my result after applying the Mosaic filter. With the image now pixelated, we have a clearer view of the photograph's overall color palette, and we'll take an easier time choosing the colors we need:

The result after pixelating the image with the Mosiac filter in Photoshop

The result after pixelating the image with the Mosaic filter.

Keep filter effects editable with Smart Filters in Photoshop!

Creating a new swatch set in Photoshop CC 2020

So at present that nosotros've pixelated the image, we're set to start sampling some colors to create swatches. And to go on the Swatches panel organized, we'll first create a new swatch set that we tin can place our swatches into.

Step 1: Open up the Swatches panel

Get-go by opening the Swatches panel. In Photoshop CC 2020, the Swatches panel is grouped in with the Colour, Gradients and Patterns panels.

Equally I covered in the previous tutorial, the default color swatches in Photoshop CC 2020 are divided into sets, and each set is represented by a binder. To twirl a set open or closed, click the arrow to the left of its folder icon:

The default color swatch sets in the Swatches panel in Photoshop CC 2020

The default color swatch sets in Photoshop CC 2020.

Step 2: Create a new swatch set

To create a new ready to hold your own colour swatches, click the Create New Group icon at the bottom of the Swatches panel:

How to create a new swatch group in the Swatches panel in Photoshop CC 2020

Clicking the Create New Grouping icon.

Give the new ready a name, like "My Swatches", and so click OK:

Naming the new swatch set in Photoshop CC 2020

Naming the new swatch set.

Your new set appears below the other sets in the list:

The Swatches panel in Photoshop CC 2020 showing the new swatch set

The new "My Swatches" set appears.

Tip! Create swatch sets inside the main ready

But rather than placing all of your custom swatches into the same set, information technology's unremarkably ameliorate to divide them into smaller sets within the master i. In other words, if you lot'll exist creating swatches from dissimilar images, you may want the swatches from each image to be saved in their own set up.

Step 1: Create another new swatch set up

For example, I want to create a ready specifically for the colors from the prototype I'm using. To do that, I'll once more click the Create New Grouping icon at the bottom of the Swatches panel:

Creating another new swatch group in Photoshop CC 2020

Clicking the Create New Group icon.

And this time, I'll proper name the gear up "Portrait". Then I'll click OK to close the dialog box:

Naming the new swatch set

Naming the new set.

Back in the Swatches panel, the new "Portrait" gear up appears below the "My Swatches" set:

The second custom swatch set appears in the Swatches panel

The second prepare appears.

Pace 2: Drag the new set onto the main set

To move the "Portrait" gear up into the "My Swatches" set, all I need to do is elevate the "Portrait" set and onto it. When a blue highlight box appears effectually the "My Swatches" prepare, I'll release my mouse button:

Dragging one swatch set into another set in Photoshop CC 2020

Dragging one set onto another set.

And at present, the new set is nested inside the main 1:

The Swatches panel showing the nested swatch set

The Swatches console showing the nested swatch set.

How to create color swatches in Photoshop

At present that nosotros've created a new set to hold our swatches, permit's learn how to create swatches by sampling unlike colors from the image.

Step 1: Select a swatch gear up in the Swatches panel

First, in the Swatches console, brand sure the set you desire to save the swatches into is selected. I'll choose my "Portrait" prepare:

Choosing a swatch set in the Swatches panel in Photoshop CC 2020

Choosing the right swatch ready.

Step 2: Select the Eyedropper Tool

Side by side, in the toolbar, select the Eyedropper Tool. You can also select the Eyedropper Tool from your keyboard by pressing the alphabetic character I:

Selecting the Eyedropper Tool in Photoshop

Selecting the Eyedropper Tool.

Step 3: Click on a colour to sample it

Then with the Eyedropper Tool selected, click on one of the colors in the image to sample it:

Selecting the Eyedropper Tool in Photoshop

Selecting the Eyedropper Tool.

Dorsum in the toolbar, the colour you sampled appears every bit your new Foreground color:

The Foreground Color swatch in Photoshop's toolbar showing the sampled color

The Foreground Color swatch shows the sampled color.

Step iv: Click the Create New Swatch icon

To save the sampled color as a new swatch, click the Create New Swatch icon at the bottom of the Swatches panel:

How to create a new color swatch in Photoshop CC 2020

Clicking the Create New Swatch icon.

You can proper noun the new swatch in the Colour Swatch Name dialog box, or but accept the default name. And y'all can add together the new swatch to your Creative Cloud library by selecting the Add to my electric current library option. I don't need to do that so I'll uncheck it.

Click OK to close the dialog box when you lot're washed:

How to name the new color swatch in Photoshop CC 2020

The Color Swatch Name dialog box.

Tip! How to skip the Color Swatch Proper noun dialog box

If you don't need to proper name your new swatches, you lot can skip the Color Swatch Proper name dialog box by pressing and property Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) on your keyboard as you click the Create New Swatch icon.

The new swatch appears every bit a thumbnail in the active swatch gear up:

The sampled color is saved as a new color swatch in Photoshop CC 2020

The sampled color is saved as a new swatch.

See also: How to cull text colors from images!

How to delete a color swatch

To delete a color swatch in the Swatches console, click on the swatch'south thumbnail to highlight it, so click the Delete Swatch icon (the trash bin):

How to delete a color swatch in Photoshop CC 2020

Deleting the selected color swatch.

When Photoshop asks if you want to delete the swatch, click OK. Or to skip this dialog box when deleting a swatch, press and concur Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) on your keyboard as you click the Delete Swatch icon:

The Delete Swatch dialog box in Photoshop CC 2020

The Delete Swatch dialog box.

Another mode to delete a colour swatch is to right-click (Win) / Control-click (Mac) on the swatch's thumbnail:

Right-clicking (Win) / Control-clicking (Mac) on the color swatch in the Swatches panel

Correct-clicking (Win) / Command-clicking (Mac) on the swatch.

And and then choose Delete Swatch from the menu:

Choosing the Delete Swatch command in Photoshop CC 2020

Choosing the Delete Swatch command.

Creating more color swatches

Keep sampling colors from the paradigm with the Eyedropper Tool and clicking the Create New Swatch icon in the Swatches panel. In general, it'south all-time to become a wide range of colors, including a few highlights, some shadows, and some of the more common colors in between.

All of your new swatches volition appear in the set, set to exist used in your layout or in hereafter designs:

The new color swatches created in Photoshop CC 2020

The new swatches.

Deleting the pixelated version of the image

Finally, to delete the pixelated version of the image when you're done, select its layer in the Layers panel and simply drag it downwards onto the Delete Layer icon (the trash bin):

Deleting the pixelated version of the image in Photoshop

Dragging the pixelated version onto the trash bin.

And there nosotros have it! That's how easy it is to create your own colour swatches, and how to save them in custom sets, in Photoshop CC 2020! In the side by side tutorial, I'll testify you how to import and export your color swatches then you'll always have them when you need them!

Check out our Photoshop Basics department for more than tutorials. And don't forget, all of our Photoshop tutorials are available to download as PDFs!