How to fill in the negative space on an object?

Forum|Forum|2 months ago
January 29, 2026
4 replies
86 views

I have an image that has some negative cut outs in it. I’d like to fill them in/make them another color but how do I do that? Everytime I use a clipping mask it just changes the color of the object and not fill in the negative space. Help I’m new to illustrator

how-to

Correct answer Monika Gause

You could check out the Shapebuilder tool. https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/creating-shapes-shape-builder-tool.html

Kurt Gold

Community Expert

As Ton already mentioned, please share a sample Illustrator file with further instructions.

Your description is a bit vague and may be interpreted in various possible ways.

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

kendra,

If it is vector artwork, I believe you can:

Select the Compound Path;
Use the (dropdown) Object>Compound Path>Release,
In the expanded Layers palette lock the bottommost Path (the outermost one) and use Ctrl/Cmd+G to Group the rest,
Change the Fill Color in the Toolbox to the desired different colour,
Unlock the locked Path,
Group everything if desired (consisting of a Group of (inner) Paths.and one (outer) Path.

You can also skip Grouping in 3, and just Group everything in 6.