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sarahp3320398424
Participant
January 2, 2017
Answered

Color Panel and Selection Tool Problem

  • January 2, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 333 views

I just started Adobe Illustrator last week, so I'm a beginner. The other day, I was using the color panel and I accidentally clicked on the X in the corner. Since then, I couldn't use the color panel. Also, today I tried to draw something, but no matter what I did, it was stuck on the selector. It seems impossible for me to draw now. Please help.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer rcraighead

    To retrieve the Color Panel go to the "Window" pulldown menu and choose "Color". The Color Panel should reappear.

    When you say "…stuck on selector" I assume you mean one of the "Selection Tools". Is it an arrow (black or white)?

    To draw something first make sure an unlocked layer is active in the "Layers" Panel. Then choose a drawing tool from the "Tools" panel. This could be any of the many drawing tools such as Pen, Line Segment, Ellipse or Rectangle tool. When you hover over the tool panel icons you'll see the tool name along with the keyboard shortcut. Learn the shortcuts so you can quickly choose a tool without going to the tool panel. "P" for Pen Tool, "L" for Ellipse Tool, "M" for Rectangle Tool are just a few. Just type the letter key, no modifier key is required.

    2 replies

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 2, 2017

    So you chose a tool, but only had the arrow cursor?

    Check if your Cmd resp Ctrl (WIndows) key on the keyboard is stuck.

    Do you have a graphic tablet (Wacom or other)?

    When posting in this forum, always tell us which system and version you use.

    And please: read the documentation and watch some videos on how to use the software. It's a complex software.

    Illustrator workspace basics

    rcraighead
    rcraigheadCorrect answer
    Legend
    January 2, 2017

    To retrieve the Color Panel go to the "Window" pulldown menu and choose "Color". The Color Panel should reappear.

    When you say "…stuck on selector" I assume you mean one of the "Selection Tools". Is it an arrow (black or white)?

    To draw something first make sure an unlocked layer is active in the "Layers" Panel. Then choose a drawing tool from the "Tools" panel. This could be any of the many drawing tools such as Pen, Line Segment, Ellipse or Rectangle tool. When you hover over the tool panel icons you'll see the tool name along with the keyboard shortcut. Learn the shortcuts so you can quickly choose a tool without going to the tool panel. "P" for Pen Tool, "L" for Ellipse Tool, "M" for Rectangle Tool are just a few. Just type the letter key, no modifier key is required.

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