An easy way to save unnamed colors in InDesign (CS/CS2/CS3/CS4)

Although it's tempting to mix custom colors in the Color panel as you work, forgoing the extra step of saving the colors in the Swatches panel isn't a good habit to develop. Not that the colors won't output properly, because they probably will. The problem with using unnamed colors in Adobe InDesign is that they're very hard to find in your document when the need arises.

Say, for example, that you used a custom color throughout a document and now need to change it to a different color. It's a simple step if the color is saved in the Swatches panel. It's a time-consuming process if it isn't. Luckily, unnamed colors that you created in the Color panel and used in your document are easily added to the Swatches panel. Just [ctrl]-click (right-click in Windows) on the swatch and choose Add To Swatches.

This, however, names the colors with their color values. To rename a color, double-click on the swatch in the Swatches panel to open the Swatch Options dialog box. Then, deselect the Name With Color Value check box and enter a name in the Swatch Name text box. Finally, click OK. Now, your custom colors are saved in your Swatches panel and easier to identify too.