Select the object whose colors you want to convert using the Selection
tool.
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Get started
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Learn the basics
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Draw shapes and paths
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Draw shapes
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Paint and fill
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Learn painting basics
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Apply and edit strokes
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Learn painting basics
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Manage colors
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Select and adjust colors
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Use swatches
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Modify colors
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Apply transparency and blending
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Design with text
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Work with fonts and scripts
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Edit and format text
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Use special characters and glyphs
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Create and manage artboards
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Organize and manage artboards
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Manage layers
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Automate and visualize data
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Automate actions
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Visualize data
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Automate actions
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Convert color modes
Last updated on
Oct 27, 2025
Learn how to convert color modes to ensure accurate color display and consistency across different formats in Illustrator.
Convert colors to Grayscale
Select Edit > Edit Colors > Convert to Grayscale.
Convert Grayscale vector objects to RGB or CMYK
Select the Grayscale vector object using the Selection tool.
Select Edit > Edit Colors > Convert to CMYK or Convert to RGB, depending on the color mode of the document.
Colorize Grayscale or 1-bit images
Select the Grayscale image or 1-bit image in the document using the Selection tool.
Select the Fill box in the Tools panel.
Select Window > Color.
In the Color panel, color the image with Black, White, a Process color, or a Spot Color.
Note
If a Grayscale image contains an alpha channel (transparency layer), Illustrator will not allow to apply a Process Color. In this case, use a Spot Color to colorize the image instead.
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