How to Select Objects Based on Their Color in Adobe Illustrator

Quickly select objects in Adobe Illustrator based on their fill or stroke color using dedicated selection tools and menu options.

Adobe Illustrator provides powerful ways to select multiple objects based on shared attributes like color. This is particularly useful when you need to quickly modify the color of many elements throughout your artwork or perform other operations on similarly colored objects.

Selecting Objects by Color

One of the most common methods is using the "Select > Same" menu, which allows you to select objects sharing properties with a currently selected object. As indicated in the provided reference, you can easily select objects that have the same fill color or the same stroke color.

Here's a breakdown of how you typically select objects by color:

Using the "Select > Same" Menu

This method is based on selecting one object first and then telling Illustrator to select all other objects that share a specific attribute with it.

1. Select one object that has the desired color you want to match.
2. Go to the Select menu at the top.
3. Hover over Same.
4. Choose the attribute you want to match. Based on the reference, key options include:
   • Fill Color: This will select all objects in your artwork that have the exact same fill color as your initial selection. The reference notes this can select "Every other object on the canvas. That has that same fill. Color."
   • Stroke Color: This will select all objects that have the exact same stroke color as your initial selection. The reference mentions you can "go by stroke color" too.
   • Fill & Stroke: Selects objects with the same fill and stroke color.

This method is precise and works well when you know the exact color you need to select.

Using the Magic Wand Tool

The Magic Wand tool (Y) is another excellent way to select objects based on color and other attributes. It works by clicking on an object, and it automatically selects other objects that are similar within a certain tolerance.

1. Select the Magic Wand tool from the Toolbar.
2. Double-click the Magic Wand tool icon to open its settings panel.
3. Here, you can define what attributes the Magic Wand should look for, such as:
   • Fill Color
   • Stroke Color
   • Stroke Weight
   • Opacity
   • Blending Mode
4. You can also set a Tolerance level for Fill Color and Stroke Color. A higher tolerance selects colors that are similar, not just identical.
5. Click on an object in your artwork. The Magic Wand will select all other objects that match the checked attributes within the specified tolerance.

The Magic Wand is great for selecting objects with colors that are close to each other, which is useful when dealing with slight color variations.

Comparing Selection Methods

Method	How it Works	Based On	Precision	Useful For
Select > Same	Select one object, then choose attribute.	Exact Match	High	Selecting objects with identical colors.
Magic Wand	Click on object, selects similar objects.	Match + Tolerance	High to Low	Selecting objects with similar or identical colors.

By utilizing these methods, you can efficiently manage and modify colors across your Illustrator documents, selecting multiple objects with shared color properties in just a few clicks.