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wnwka
Inspiring
Jun 24, 2026 5:26 PM UTC
Question

InDesign does not use the fill color to fill shapes/strokes?

Usually, if I got a fill or stroke color set (left in the toolbar) and draw a shape like a square, this fill and stroke (if any is set) will used to create this shape. Now - all of a sudden and who knows since when - it just ignores it?

I have a color fill set, I draw the shape = the shape stays unfilled and without any stroke + the preset color and stroke just vanishes to nothing and I have to re-fill or add a stroke while the blank shape is selected….

InDesign Version 21.4

    4 replies

    Abhishek Rao
    Community Manager
    Abhishek RaoCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    Jun 29, 2026 1:34 PM UTC

    Hi ​@wnwka,

     

    I hope you're doing well. Could you please let us know whether the issue was resolved after trying the suggestions shared by the experts?

    I also tested this behavior on my end on InDesign 21.4.1 on Windows and macOS, but I wasn't able to reproduce it, as new shapes correctly inherited the current Fill and Stroke settings. If you're still experiencing the issue, please let us know what you observe after trying the suggested steps so we can investigate it further and assist accordingly.

     

    Looking forward to your update.

    Thanks,
    Abhishek

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    Mike Witherell
    Community Expert
    Mike WitherellCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Jun 27, 2026 12:12 PM UTC

    Remember that there are two sets of Rectangle/Ellipse/Polygon tools. The R/E/P Frame drawing tools default to no fill and no stroke. Right next to those tools sits the Rectangle/Ellipse/Polygon tools. This set of drawing tools defaults to whatever the current fill and stroke colors are. Similar but not quite the same.

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    Mike Witherell
      Brad @ Roaring Mouse
      Community Expert
      Brad @ Roaring MouseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      Jun 26, 2026 5:42 PM UTC

      It is relative to your default Object Style. If your default Object Style of your document is None, it will behave as you are currently experiencing. If your default is Basic Graphics Frame, it will behave the way you were used to.

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      Peter Spier
      Community Expert
      Peter SpierCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      Jun 24, 2026 6:06 PM UTC

      Try resetting your preferences:  Reset InDesign Preferences and Other Troubleshooting

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