Auto Fill Open Shapes?

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
March 13, 2022
2 replies
3678 views

When creating a box in Illustrator, once I make three sides of the box, the program auto connects open points to make a fill, even though I haven't finished adding the fourth side to create a closed vector shape. I'd like turn that feature off, but I am not seeing the option in the Prefs. Possibly, there is a check box somewhere in the Pen Tool?

Thanks, MJ

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Correct answer Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Check out this website:

https://sendcutsend.com/finding-and-fixing-open-contours/#:~:text=We%20also%20recommend%20using%20the,particularly%20with%20larger%20design%20files.

This is older, but it may work:

http://vectorboom.com/load/tips/techniques/pathclothing/16-1-0-158

https://rj-graffix.com/downloads/scripts/

Anna Lander

Inspiring

if you have set any Fill On, Illustrator tries to fill the form when it has at least 3 points, It does not matter what kind of segments the shape has: Fill visually connects the endpoint by straight line. The only way to avoid this is to make sure that Fill is set as None before starting drawing like David suggests, Or, if you've forgot this, set Fill as None right during drawing.

M

mrjacksonAuthor

Inspiring

David and Anna,

Thanks! Both answers help. The laser cutter video is exactly what I was asking about in the real world.

When I digitize a shape, I create a working layer over a dimmed bitmap on a layer under it. On the active layer, I uncheck the Preview check box. That works fine for the job.

Just wishing for a check box in the Prefs that would work globally across the program.

MJ

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

My workflow--for what it's worth...

I usually put a scanned image on a locked, non-printing layer. I don't dim it, so I can see it better.

I then set my stroke to red and my fill to none while I'm tracing the image.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

I usually just set my fill to None while I'm drawing and fill afterwards. You can use a Graphic Style to speed up the changed.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

M

mrjacksonAuthor

Inspiring

David, thanks!!

I did a couple of screen grabs to illustrate my question. I have been in the sign business a long time and use plotters and routers to follow the vector edges to cut out shapes. Some Illustrator designers leave off the necessary last part of a shape that would create a closed shape. The images look fine on screen, but won't cut correctly. I would need to find the open shapes, then select it and complete the necessary sides using the pen tool.

That's one issue.

If I make a simple wavy line, as in the example, then want to apply a textured, tapered brush over it, the autocomplete feature gets in the way.

It is also possible for me to go to the layer attributes and turn off Preview, but I'd prefer a preference check box to turn off the autocomplete fill feature.

MJ