If you have a similar set of colours in several designs throughout a collection, you can save valuable time in the separation process by storing your separation settings in a custom palette. You can only possible to save the settings from the Advanced Colour Separation method. 

Saving your separation settings

1. Go to File > New > Palette and save it with an appropriate name
2. Follow steps 1 – 8 in the Advanced Colour Separations article to begin separating the first layer of your design
3. When you are happy with the adjustments made in the Separate Colour Window, drag its handler to your Palette
4. An action button will be added to the Palette with a default icon
   
5. ⌥ (option key) click on the title of the Palette Button Separate Colour and name it accordingly, such as Layer 1

   
   

6. Repeat this process for all of the layers in the design

Automatically add layers to your (co-ordinating) design

1. An action button which automatically adds the required number of layers to your file is a great little time saver!

2. Once added, double click on this handler to select the settings you wish to record in your Palette. If there is only one setting you want to record, this can be dragged directly to the Palette itself
   
3. To add a button which automatically creates a set number of layers to your file, make sure your Layers Palette reflects this set up.  For example, if you only want to add spot layers, temporarily delete the image layer from the file, then drag the handler from the toolbar of the Design Window to your Palette.  If you do not delete the image first, an image will be added to any file you use this action button on. A new icon will appear in the Palette:

4. Once the action button is added to the Palette, go one step back in history in your file to add the image layer back to your design. You can use the keyboard shortcut ⌘ Z to do this.
5. Save the Palette.
6. From now on, when you press this button in any open file, the number and type of layers you had in your design at the time of creating the button will be added to the file.

Automatically add colours to your layers

1. After clicking on the Document Palette Button to create a specific number of layers in your design, the next step may be to add the relevant colours to these layers.
2. If you have already separated a design which has the same colours in it, you can store these colours in a Palette and apply them to any other design with the click of a button.
3. When you have completed your separation, store the colours from the separated layers in a Palette by double clicking on the handler from the Layers Palette and dragging the Current Colourway option to the Palette.
   
4. A new button will be added to your Palette:
   
5. Alternatively, drag it directly on top of the existing button.  This button will now add your set number of layers, and colour them all at the same time.

Saving your separation settings in AVA 5.9 

1. Go to File > New > Palette and save it with an appropriate name
2. Follow steps 1 – 8 in the Advanced Colour Separations article to begin separating the first layer of your design
3. When you are happy with the adjustments made in the Separate Colour Window, search for Advanced Colour in the Handler list.
   
4. Activate your desired layer and drag the handler into the central group list
   
5. Right click and select Rename. Change the name of the action as required.
   
6. Repeat this process for all of the layers in the design

Automatically add layers to your (co-ordinating) design in 5.9+

1. An action button which automatically adds the required number of layers to your file is a great little time saver!
2. Search for Create Layers in the handler list and drag this into the central group list. 
   
3. Save the Palette.
4. From now on, when you press this button in any open file, the number and type of layers you had in your design at the time of creating the button will be added to the file.

Automatically add colours to your layers in 5.9 + 

1. Search for Current Colourway in the handler list
2. Add this to the group list by dragging and dropping