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J
Juur
Known Participant
March 4, 2024
Answered

Area type with a mysterious background

  • March 4, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 940 views

Ran across something I've never seen in Illustrator before and that I cannot wrap my mind around, perhaps somebody has any ideas.

 

Have a look at this simple ai file with one area type object with a mysterious gray background box, which apparently comes out of nowhere. It's not a fill or stroke, it's not an effect, in fact, it's not visible in the Appearance panel at all. If I Clear Appearance it persists. It's also not an artboard. If I Expand it or add anything new to the Type object (fill, stroke, effect) then the background disappears, but I can copy it to a new document and resize it all I want and the background persists and the text flows within it just normally.

 

Is there some hidden Area type option that I'm not aware of? Or has this to do with some scripting? Or is it just a bug? Anyone have any ideas what's going on here?

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Ton Frederiks

    If you use the Direct Selection tool to select the text frame (just click first outside it before selecting), you can change the frame color.

    2 replies

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 4, 2024

    Unless you share the file, we will have trouble inspecting it.

     

    But please can you select it with the selection tool and then take a screenshot of the Appearance panel?

    The real one from Window. > Appearance

    J
    JuurAuthor
    Known Participant
    March 4, 2024

    I did share it as the .aic file through a link in my post, since this forum does not allow uploading .ai files.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 4, 2024

    WHen sharing a file that way, you need to make sure that everyone can synchronize it.

    Ton Frederiks
    Community Expert
    Ton FrederiksCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    March 4, 2024

    If you use the Direct Selection tool to select the text frame (just click first outside it before selecting), you can change the frame color.

      J
      JuurAuthor
      Known Participant
      March 4, 2024

      Omg, this is it. But how come and why it's not visible in the Appearance panel when just selecting the whole Area Type object? Anyway, thanks a lot for a quick response!

      Ton Frederiks
      Community Expert
      Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 4, 2024

      Good to hear that helped. 

      IT is visble in the Appearance panel when you direct select it.

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