I need a registration swatch - Illustrator

[EmerginT]

Hello - I've switched computers at work and the registration swatch is not included in the Default CMYK or RGB swatches. I can't find it in any files i open.
Is there a way to make one or someplace i'm not looking?
Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Illy CS2 on Mac

[urstwile]

Sounds like something happened to your Startup file. What you could do is copy the startup file from the other computer that had the swatch available, and use that as the Illustrator startup file on the new computer. It needs to go in the plug-ins folder, the filename should be Adobe Illustrator Startup_CMYK.ai and Adobe Illustrator Startup_RGB.ai.

[Kool]

You can make one too. Just make it 100% CYM&K.

[EmerginT]

But it doesn't let me drag it into the swatch palette - Is there a way to do that and save it forever?
Havent gotten a chance to get on the other computer yet to do the startup file thingy.

[urstwile]

I would definitely go the startup file route, that way you won't have to keep doing a registration swatch over and over.

[EmerginT]

I copied the startup files from the other computer and replaced the ones that were in the plug ins folder - Still no registration swatch.
maybe i have to restart?
I'll do it when i can - thanks!

[Ned]

How about your AIPREFS file? Is that still intact?

As long as that's intact, just make your own swatch, as Kool says. Registration just means 100% on every plate.

[PrintDriver]

Try chucking your pref file.
Sounds like you had someone using the comp who liked to 'customize' their software...

[EmerginT]

Ned I made my own registration mark - 100% each color - but it doesn't make a swatch when i drag the color to the swatch palette.

Printdriver - How do i get rid of the preferences file - i went in the Illustrator folder in Applications and dont see Preferences anywhere.

[urstwile]

It's this file:

/Users/YourName/Library/Preferences/com.adobe.illustrator.plist

[EmerginT]

I just throw it in the trash? will that screw anything up or will Illustrator just revert to the default?
Thanks for the quick responses.

[Craig B]

Okay, I'm going to ask an odd question, you haven't perhaps selected "show gradient swatches" or "show pattern swatches" at the bottom of your swatches palette, have you? because registration won't show up in those.

[EmerginT]

I just opened a new file and no swatches were up and i clicked on large thumbnails and lo and behold there is the registration swatch.It was still there on small thumbnails too.
maybe it was because i opened illy and closed it and it put the stuff i replaced yesterday into effect.
who knows - but it's there now - thanks everyone!

[urstwile]

Glad it's working again.

In terms of the preference file, yes, you can just throw it in the trash, it will get rebuilt the next time you launch Illustrator.