Venue - Theme settings - Display native Shopify or theme swatches

Venue 18.0.0 onwards supports both Shopify’s native swatches and our older theme-based swatches. You can use Shopify’s built-in system, continue with the older theme method, or even combine the two.

• Shopify native method: use the built in hex code and image picker built into the Shopify product page admin.
• Theme method: enter variant trigger names, hex codes or image file names into the theme swatch settings in the theme editor.

Use native swatches with a new product

1. Create a new product in your Shopify admin
2. In the Media section, set the Category (for example: Apparel & accessories → Clothing). This unlocks Category metafields for that product.
3. Add your variants making one of the options Color. Shopify will then connect the Category metafield for Color it has created to your Color option.
4. Shopify will attempt to assign the correct hex code to your products based on the name of your option.
5. If you wish to edit the color it has selected, or it fails to detect a color or you wish to use an image (such as a camouflage jpeg) you can now do that by clicking into the color name then clicking Edit.

Your theme will automatically detect Shopify’s native Color attribute and show swatches across your store, including product cards, product pages, and Quick Shop.

Use your existing native Shopify swatches

If you’ve already set up swatches using Shopify’s native Color metafield, there’s nothing more to do - the theme will automatically detect and display them.

Use the theme swatch method

If you’re upgrading from an older version of Venue and want to keep using the theme swatch method, you can. Just paste variant trigger names, hex codes or image file names into the theme swatch settings as before. The theme will continue to detect and display them.

Swap to the Shopify swatch method

If you are coming from an old version of the theme and you want to move to Shopify’s native swatch method, you can retrofit your existing products:

1. Scroll down to the Category metafields area of the admin page
2. Click on the Color option
3. Click on the small database icon and connect the metafield to your option
4. Edit your colors in the variant section as you wish - hex codes, images etc

Your theme will automatically detect Shopify’s native Color attribute and show swatches across your store, including product cards, product pages, and Quick Shop.

Combine methods (hybrid) or create swatches for options other than color

You can mix approaches:

• Use Shopify’s native swatches for Color.
• Use the theme swatch method for other options such as Material or Pattern or Strength. This is a powerful feature if you prefer swatches instead of buttons for non-color options - Shopify will only give you the hex and image picker for 'color' option.

Tips and notes

• Native Shopify swatches take priority over theme swatches when both are present.
• You can continue using the theme method indefinitely if you prefer.
• Hybrid setups (native + theme swatches) are supported and work well.
• Venue automatically supports both methods, so you don’t need extra configuration beyond what’s described above.
• Shopify has in an in-depth article on swatches here