Manage Assets with Creative Cloud Libraries

As you work with the Creative Cloud applications, you’ll probably find yourself using some of the same elements time and again. It would be nice to have these elements at your disposal, and consistent, regardless of which application you’re using.

Creative Cloud applications include libraries that enable users to access, organise, and share assets across Adobe desktop and mobile apps. From brand elements to brushes and video clips, you can keep all your creative essentials in one place, ready to use anytime, anywhere.

Your libraries sync automatically across devices, providing you with seamless transitions between computers or mobile devices. Whether you’re editing in Photoshop, designing in illustrator, or creating layouts using InDesign, managing your assets with Creative Cloud Libraries will help you keep your content organised.

Why Use Creative Cloud Libraries?

With Creative Cloud Libraries, you can:

• Access frequently used assets: Keep logos, icons, fonts, brushes, and colour palettes handy.
• Sync across devices: Move between desktop, laptop, and mobile without missing a beat.
• Collaborate effortlessly: Share libraries with your team to maintain consistency.
• Integrate with Adobe Stock and mobile apps: Add professionally designed assets or create on-the-go and sync instantly.

In this article, we’ll have a look at how you can manage and reuse assets with Creative Cloud Libraries. I’ll focus on the Desktop apps, but you can also use mobile apps to work with your libraries.

Adding Assets to a Creative Cloud Library

1. Start by opening a desktop app, such as Adobe InDesign.
2. Open the Libraries panel in your desktop app
3. Select Window > Libraries (or in InDesign’s case, Window > CC Libraries). Note that InDesign uses “CC Libraries” because it already had an existing “Libraries” feature before Adobe Creative Cloud Libraries were introduced.
4. Use the menu to create a New Library or add items to the default library, “My Library.”

   

You can add assets in two ways:

• Click the Plus (+) Button: Add colours, text styles, graphics, or effects directly from your document.
• Drag and Drop: Drag shapes, photos, and other elements straight from your project into the Libraries panel.

Each asset is organised by category, and you can rename them by double clicking the title. Once they’re saved, assets are ready to be dragged into any project for quick reuse.

Adding from Adobe Stock

Creative Cloud Libraries integrate seamlessly with Adobe Stock:

1. In the Libraries panel, type a keyword in the search bar and filter by asset type.
2. Drag a watermarked preview directly into your document. The asset will be automatically saved to your library for later use.

If you want to browse more options, click See More Results on The Web to open the Adobe Stock site. Download previews that you want to test in your design, and when ready, you can license the asset directly from your library by clicking License & Save To.

Reusing and Updating Library Assets

Once assets have been saved in your library, you can reuse them in any file or app. Try the following:

• Drag graphic assets directly onto an Illustrator artboard, Photoshop canvas, or InDesign layout.
• Apply styles like colours or text formatting by selecting an object and clicking the corresponding asset thumbnail in the Libraries panel.

This ensures that you have consistency across your projects and eliminates the risk of using outdated versions.

Keeping Up to Date with Linked Assets

Linked assets are fantastic when you need to update an element across multiple projects. When a library asset is modified, all instances of that asset in your designs will be updated automatically.

Linked assets make it easy to maintain consistency while saving time on updates.

Conclusion

Wherever you’re designing, Creative Cloud Libraries ensure your assets are accessible, organised, and ready to use. Give them a try and experience a more streamlined, consistent, and professional workflow.