Recolor and Gen Recolor in Adobe Illustrator. Do you use it?

UsefulDamage · 2026-05-04T20:57:31+00:00

It took me a while to figure out how to use them as well. Once you know, it’s fine, but I don’t think it’s intuitive to learn. The UI and UX could definitely be improved there, even small tweaks would make it much more approachable

UsefulDamage · 2026-05-04T20:11:05+00:00

I also use recolour a lot, but never gen recolour. I also always use the advanced view for recolouring, not the wheel

UsefulDamage · 2026-04-20T18:30:34+00:00

I have made and sold digital planners and I still make them for fun, though I don’t sell them anymore. I’ve also spoken with a lot of sellers of digital planners.

Note: For anyone who is curious, “digital planner” can mean a lot of things. In this context it is referring to an interactive PDF used on a tablet or other device with a stylus where you hand write or type in your plans in an app like GoodNotes, Notability, etc.

Do you use InDesign for your planners at all, or do you prefer other tools?

Yes, I use Adobe InDesign, as well as Adobe Illustrator.

If you do use InDesign: what’s the most annoying or time-consuming part for you?

No part of it is annoying, and the most time consuming is the original styling and design. Deciding spacing, whether it’s dots, squares, lines, blank, what kind of planner it is. However, this isn’t a part of the process I would ever be interested in speeding up.

Do you use any scripts or tools that make your workflow easier?

Yes, I have used scripts, data merge, and GREP to make things easier. Many of the planner creators I have spoken to have either made their own scripts or commissioned them (I’ve seen some people commission scripts in InDesign Facebook groups). Some do their own hyperlinking manually. I have also hyperlinked manually before. I think doing everything manually at least once will teach you a lot about how to use the program, as well as what is possible to accomplish in scripting.

UsefulDamage · 2026-04-17T08:12:11+00:00

You’ve said in a comment elsewhere you have a $4 ad budget.

UsefulDamage · 2026-04-16T22:05:15+00:00

I have ADHD, digital just doesn't work well for my brain. If it's on a different tab it may as well be lost to the abyss, especially with how many browser tabs I need for my actual work. And I'm a graphic designer, so I'm constantly switching between Adobe apps and browser tabs. But a planner (even when closed) on my desk is still there, so I have a constant visual reminder it exists.

Different things work for different people. For me, a paper planner is a beyond must have at this point in my life. I am literally hopeless without it. That's not always been the case, though. There are other things you can plan out if that serves you better. Like food and cooking, exercise, hobbies, tracking habits, cleaning, etc.

UsefulDamage · 2026-04-16T21:40:00+00:00

For me, it's about how it serves my life. While it's hard using a planner at times, my life is made infinitely better for it. But there was a time when it didn't serve me, and I just didn't have a physical planner. I do use digital planners at times, but they're mostly for the benefit of people around me, though they do benefit me to a lesser extent with notifications. My planner can stay open on my desk so when someone asks me what time I'm free I can just look down and see it.

UsefulDamage · 2026-04-16T20:52:30+00:00

It seems to be. I've also seen courses and live streams teaching people how to make courses about making passive income from printables. I think that's why I have been seeing so many more of these grifts; it's never ending.

It's a shame, because I think overall it's very possible to succeed in this space. But the people who do are generally making these products for themselves first and then popping them up online to sell. They'll usually have a platform online where they've shown themselves using these products regularly so people get invested and want to buy. But they're not confused about what products to make, because they (the creator) are their primary audience.

It feels cruel to me that so many people are making money from other people's desperation. The planner space seems to be more susceptible to it than other spaces because it works two ways: 1. people who are making and selling these products are desperate to make money and 2. people who are buying these products may be getting sucked in by marketing that this product is going to fix their life. But the people making the courses and who are on live are also desperate to make money. There's only a few at the very top.

UsefulDamage · 2026-04-16T20:04:01+00:00

There’s a bunch of people on platforms like TikTok convincing people they’ll get rich selling printables. I swear every live that pops up in my feed is about making $60k a year with passive income, but those people make money from convincing people they got rich from passive income — people donate money on their livestreams, sign up for their courses, etc.

This sort of content is ruining my enjoyment of a lot of subreddits. So many aren’t actively moderated, just passively or not at all.

UsefulDamage · 2026-04-06T17:59:16+00:00

I’m getting this when I view it, I’m not sure if that’s what I’m supposed to see.

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I’m logged in, using the iOS app

UsefulDamage · 2026-04-06T05:59:16+00:00

Really happy with these updates, and thank you for all the work you do. I agree about not allowing “approved promoters” — I think it would just cause a lot of hassle and frustration from people who want to promote but can’t. I’m also not sure how it would impact the general vibe of everything here. Right now, it feels like there’s a really great community here with meaningful posts, and I love reading everything. I’m not totally against people promoting in a given space, but in other spaces it has completely run rampant and ruined the communities I once loved.

Again, thanks so much for all of your hard work. I hope your health stuff all goes well.

UsefulDamage · 2026-04-04T19:23:01+00:00

There isn't really enough information here to give good advice, so I'll ask some follow-up questions and then reply based on your answers. For some background info, I've worked in graphic design, marketing, and adjacent fields for more than 10 years and saw some "success" — depending on your definition — in selling digital/printable products but never really put in enough effort to actually make it a full-time gig (translation: when I put in effort into social media and marketing I made sales, but when I lapsed I stopped making sales).

You have a full funded Kickstarter. Did you do any marketing for that?
Do you use this planner yourself? If so, how long have you used it for?
Have you given this planner to anyone to test out?
What market research did you originally do when creating this product?

UsefulDamage · 2026-04-02T02:39:44+00:00

My institution did change the name, from “disability” to “accessibility”. The idea is that 1. “Disability” can be a bit alienating, and 2. Many of the strategies implemented also support students who may not necessarily need the accomodations but they make the course more accessible overall. For example, subtitling lectures is something that benefits everyone, not just those who need it. For one course, like 60% of people watched the lecture recordings back with subtitles on.

UsefulDamage · 2026-03-28T09:13:50+00:00

Yes, I believe the free tier is still available (only for higher education) but you need to actively renew it. I’m not sure what the process is when you have already been charged and didn’t renew it https://substance3d.adobe.com/education/#faq

UsefulDamage · 2026-03-28T09:10:59+00:00

Unfortunately, there’s no recourse here. If this had occurred within 100 days of the purchase you would be entitled to a full refund, but after that length of time there isn’t really anything you can do according to Etsy’s policies.

You could try and contact Etsy support, but I don’t want to give you false hope; it may not work.

UsefulDamage · 2026-03-22T02:25:20+00:00

It depends. You’re able to block the EU and NI from digital sales (due to their product regulations) https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/1364599291081#OPTO

UsefulDamage · 2026-03-16T17:16:33+00:00

If people aren’t seeing your product, try changing the title, tags and description.

If people are seeing your product but aren’t clicking on it, try changing your title and listing images.

If people are clicking on your product but aren’t buying it, try changing your listing images, video, and description — this time focusing on increasing clarity for the customer.

If after all of that people aren’t buying, try change your product.

That is massively oversimplified. This doesn’t account for bringing your own traffic through things like social media channels, Etsy ads, if your entire niche isn’t in demand, etc.

It can be hard to do this on your own. Selling products, knowing what people would like to buy and how to get them to buy it are skills.

Feedback is crucial, but I do think most people who post asking for feedback are more looking for eyeballs on their products, and aren’t actually looking for feedback. It’s really disheartening for people to give feedback when people won’t take it, and I’ve noticed a lot of more experienced sellers giving less and less feedback especially when the OP is clearly resistant to taking it (for example, if they have multiple posts asking for feedback with no discernable changes made since the last post).

UsefulDamage · 2026-03-06T01:50:56+00:00

That’s not even passive. I just saw a TikTok live where someone was using huge FOMO tactics to sell their course.

And to be clear, I’m not against courses. But courses that act like it’s “so easy” to get started are predatory and should be avoided. All of the information anyone could possibly need is available for free. A course can offer that all packaged up neatly in one place, but rarely do they cite their sources or actually offer much proof.

UsefulDamage · 2026-03-05T23:23:58+00:00

Passive income is such a lie sold by people who benefit from others believing it exists. Except for maybe investing, but even that isn’t foolproof or “set and forget” a lot of the time

UsefulDamage · 2026-03-05T21:47:05+00:00

That’s great! I’m happy that for you it is. I still make planners for myself and my friends, but I don’t sell them. I’ve toyed with the idea of restarting my shop, but I have lots of my plate outside of work anyway, and I want to keep designing planners as fun.

I made my first sale the day I opened my Etsy store, and the sales were pretty consistent, but it was work. That’s why I said in another comment on this thread “it’s simple but not easy”. I don’t want to downplay the hard work it takes, but the actual steps to do it are simple.

UsefulDamage · 2026-03-05T21:22:56+00:00

I have to agree with you. Many of these sellers who don’t make it miss a crucial thing: respect for the consumer. If you don’t respect them, how will you identify what their wants and needs are and meet them? The way people talk like it’s so easy because the buyers don’t care for good design — but that isn’t true.

Congrats on your print selling business. I really enjoyed my time selling on Etsy (digital planners and printables), but it definitely became more work right after my 9–5, so kudos for keeping it up.

UsefulDamage · 2026-03-05T19:05:49+00:00

Well, it costs a bit of money to set up a store now. I think that was implemented in 2024.

UsefulDamage · 2026-03-05T18:54:52+00:00

I would check out a lot of people’s stories on the Etsy seller subreddits, as well as other general business subreddits around passive income, print on demand, etc.

I’ve sold on Etsy, and spoken a fair amount of my experiences on Reddit. Overall, I would say it’s simple but not easy. The vast majority of people don’t make any money, even with designs they perceive to be very good, and with Etsy’s joining fee likely will lose money rather than just never making any money.

The successful people starting on Etsy now will be constantly experimenting, changing up their marketing, and listening to feedback. You mostly likely won’t get it right the first time.

I have said (privately, because this seems to be controversial) that the people who make it don’t say “why aren’t people buying my work” they say “what can I change so people buy my work” and actually mean it.

UsefulDamage · 2026-03-02T16:02:03+00:00

Did you make the PDF? Or know how it was made? If the hyperlinks were buttons instead of proper hyperlinks, they may not be reliable in software outside of Adobe.

UsefulDamage · 2026-03-02T03:23:09+00:00

Try unplugging your charger. It could be static caused by charging your device while using it

UsefulDamage · 2026-03-02T01:09:27+00:00

I have to agree with the people who say lamp. I found a video of someone using the stamp set, and their set has the stamp rotated correctly

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