A quick reference to common file paths and ways of sharing assets for Adobe Creative Cloud.
Versions
- Illustrator CC 2017 = version 21
- Illustrator CC 2018 = version 22
- Illustrator CC 2019 = version 23
- Illustrator CC 2020 = version 24
- Illustrator CC 2021 = version 25
- Illustrator CC 2022 = version 26
- Illustrator CC 2023 = version 27
Be sure to replace the Illustrator version number below with the version being used.
Swatches
Preset swatches:
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CC 2019\Presets\en_US\Swatches
Custom swatches:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator 23 Settings\en_US\x64\Swatches
Symbols
Preset symbols:
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CC 2019\Presets\en_US\Symbols
Custom symbols:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator 23 Settings\en_US\x64\Symbols
Brushes
Preset brushes:
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CC 2019\Presets\en_US\Brushes
Custom brushes:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator 23 Settings\en_US\x64\Brushes
Adobe CEP
These folders are where Illustrator looks for custom CEP plugins. Check out adobe-cep to learn more.
User: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\<CEPVersion>\extensions\
System: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\<CEPVersion>\extensions\
To share assets (Swatches, Brushes, Symbols) across directories on Windows there are two options:
-
Use the built in presets directory found at
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CC 2019\Presets\en_US\<asset-type>. Note: In the preset assets folders you will probably find all the existing presets. I put these files into a folder named "Adobe" that lives along side any custom asset folders I add to keep it organized. -
Use the custom "user defined" directory found at
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator 23 Settings\en_US\x64\<asset-type>.Note: I should mention it is possible to share all assets in the cloud using the Adobe infrastructure but you don't have local access to collections of assets if developing extensions or just making libraries to share internally. These instructions are for anyone interested in working locally or with shared assets.
Method 1: Shortcuts
Shortcuts can be used to make a link between two directories, such as a Dropbox directory and the Presets system directory. This kind of link could be used in place of symbolic links on Windows systems and are useful for admin level directories. Also, the benefit of using them in this way means that brushes, swatches, or symbols will show up in the list of each kind based on the directory name and asset collection name.
For Example: Making a shortcut between directory A and directory B
Directory A: C:\Users\<username>\Dropbox\Templates\Symbols\SharedSymbols
Directory B: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CC 2019\Presets\en_US\Symbols
Make a shortcut by right clicking on the SharedSymbols directory and select "Create shortcut". A shortcut named "SharedSymbols - shortcut" will be created. Remove the shortcut part of the filename and move to Directory B. You will need to have Admin access to move the shortcut. Once this is done, open Illustrator and goto the Symbols panel to see the SharedSymbols item in the list.
Method 2: Symbolic Links
Symbolic links can be used to make a link between a custom directory, say in a Dropbox, with the custom "user defined" system folder. This kind of link will put brushes, swatches, or symbols into the User Defined menu item at the bottom of each type of asset panel.
For Example: Making a symbolic link between directory A and directory B
Directory A: C:\Users\<username>\Dropbox\Templates\Symbols\SharedSymbols
Directory B: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator 23 Settings\en_US\x64\Symbols
ln -s /c/Users/<username>/Dropbox/Templates/Symbols/SharedSymbols /c/Users/<username>/AppData/Roaming/
Adobe/Adobe\ Illustrator\ 23\ Settings/en_US/x64/Symbols
Tip: To create symlinks as shown above I am using cmder terminal emulator.
Swatches
Preset swatches:
/Applications/Adobe\ Illustrator\ CC\ 2019/Presets.localized/en_US/Swatches
Custom swatches:
/Users/<username>/Library/Application\ Support/Adobe/Adobe\ Illustrator\ 23/en_US/Swatches
Symbols
Preset symbols:
/Applications/Adobe\ Illustrator\ CC\ 2019/Presets.localized/en_US/Symbols
Custom symbols:
/Users/<username>/Library/Application\ Support/Adobe/Adobe\ Illustrator\ 23/en_US/Symbols
Brushes
Preset brushes:
/Applications/Adobe\ Illustrator\ CC\ 2019/Presets.localized/en_US/Brushes
Custom brushes:
/Users/<username>/Library/Application\ Support/Adobe/Adobe\ Illustrator\ 23/en_US/Symbols
Scripts
The scripts folder recognized by Illustrator doesn't acknowledge symlinks or aliases. Therefore, the best way to manage scripts is to keep them in the default folder for the version of Illustrator being used. To keep this folder organized one could use sub folders for any group of scripts. These show up as nested items in the File > Scripts menu item. Per the Adobe Illustrator CC 2017 Scripting Guide (pg 10), one could also just reference a script anywhere on the system via File > Scripts > Other Script.
New to scripting? To learn more about scripting in general, check out adobe-scripting to learn more.
Preset scripts:
/Applications/Adobe\ Illustrator\ CC\ 2019/Presets.localized/en_US/Scripts
Adobe CEP
These folders are where Illustrator looks for custom CEP plugins. Check out adobe-cep to learn more.
User: ∼/Library/Application Support/Adobe/<CEPVersion>/extensions
System: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/<CEPVersion>/extensions
It’s useful to manage shared assets using symbolic links from a shared folder such as Dropbox to the Symbols or Swatches Adobe folder.
For Example:
Source: /Users/<username>/Dropbox/Illustrator/SharedSymbols
Destination: /Users/<username>/Library/Application\ Support/Adobe/Adobe\ Illustrator\ 23/en_US/Symbols
This makes a symbolic link from source to destination:
ln -s /Users/<username>/Dropbox/Illustrator/SharedSymbols /Users/<username>/Library/Application\ Support/Adobe/Adobe\ Illustrator\ 23/en_US/Symbols