How to Change the Color of an Image in Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator offers a powerful set of tools for editing and manipulating images, including the ability to change the color of any image. Whether you’re looking to alter the color scheme of a photo or artwork for a design project, or simply want to experiment with different color options, Illustrator provides the flexibility and control to achieve the desired results. In this article, we’ll explore the step-by-step process of changing the color of an image in Adobe Illustrator.

Step 1: Open the Image in Adobe Illustrator

To begin, launch Adobe Illustrator and open the image file you want to modify. You can do this by selecting “File” and then “Open” from the top menu, and then browsing for the image file on your computer. Once the image is open in Illustrator, it will be displayed on the artboard.

Step 2: Select the Image

Click on the image to select it. This will enable the image editing tools and options in Illustrator.

Step 3: Use the Recolor Artwork Tool

Navigate to the top menu and select “Edit” and then “Edit Colors”. From the dropdown menu, choose “Recolor Artwork”. The Recolor Artwork panel will appear, providing a range of options for adjusting the colors within the image.

Step 4: Adjust the Color

In the Recolor Artwork panel, you can manually adjust the colors of the image by dragging the color sliders, adjusting color handles, or using the color wheel. You can also choose specific colors or create harmony rules to automatically update the colors.

Step 5: Save the Changes

Once you are satisfied with the new color scheme, click “OK” to apply the changes. The image will be updated with the new colors.

Step 6: Fine-Tune the Results

After applying the new colors, you may want to further fine-tune the image by adjusting the color sliders or controls in the Recolor Artwork panel to achieve the exact look you desire.

Step 7: Export the Modified Image

Once you are completely satisfied with the color changes, you can save or export the modified image by selecting “File” and then “Export” from the top menu.

Conclusion

Changing the color of an image in Adobe Illustrator is a straightforward process that offers a wide range of creative possibilities. Whether you’re looking to create a new color scheme for a design project, experiment with different variations, or simply update the colors of an image, Illustrator provides the tools and flexibility to achieve the desired results. By following the step-by-step process outlined in this article, you can easily modify the color of any image to suit your creative vision.