Making Symbol Palettes

[dyowell]

I just downloaded your symbols and really think that they are great.  I'm
sure that I will find some use for them in the near future.

I do have one question for you.  Can you please tell me how you make symbols on their own palettes, to be available in the symbols library.  I have searched for this answer and cannot find it anywhere.  I appreciate  the help.

[AdrianJ]

We are currently in the process of creating another flash tutorial on how to incorporate your own artwork in Illustrator Symbol Libraries, but in the meantime here are the steps.

1. Create a new file and save it with the filename that you would like for the name of the symbol library palette

2. Click Window | Symbols to make sure the main symbol palette is showing

3. Click on the small right facing arrow at the top right of the symbol palette and select ?Select All Unused? and then click the trashcan at the bottom of the palette.  The palette should now be empty and ready to add your symbols

4. Open up your files with the artwork that you want to put into the library

5. To ensure font compatibility be sure to convert any text that may be in the artwork into outlines by right clicking on it and selecting ?Create Outlines?

6. Copy the artwork into the file that you setup with the pallet name in Step 1

7. Resize the object as desired

8. Drag the object into the main symbol palette

9. Double click on the new symbol to give it a new name

10. Delete the artwork from the main part of the page

11. Drag the symbol from the symbol palette onto the page and then delete it from the page (this is simply a checking step to verify the symbol works)

12. Repeat steps 4 to 10 until the symbol palette contains all the symbols you require

13. Make sure the main part of the page contains no artwork

14. Make sure the symbol palette only contains the symbols you want included in the library

15. Save the file

16. Copy the file to your Illustrator / Presets / Symbols folder which is usually: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Illustrator (10 or CS)\Presets\Symbols

17. Close Illustrator and restart

18. Your new symbol library can now be accessed via Window | Symbol Libraries

19. Repeat 1 to 17 to create multiple new libraries

20. To add new symbols to the library at a later date, simply open the file that you copied to the Illustrator / Presets / Symbols folder and repeat from step 4

Please let me know if you have any problems or any other questions relating to symbol libraries,

Adrian