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Hannah KG
Hannah KG
New Participant
July 15, 2022
Answered

Cannot apply eyedropper text style to multiple text selections

  • July 15, 2022
  • 4 replies
  • 4521 views

Eyedropper help for text! To apply color, stroke, style, etc, I can use the eyedropper to pick up attributes, hold the ALT key, and apply those attributes to multiple objects. But I can't do the same thing when applying text styles to multiple segments of text. Am I missing something?

I do it in InDesign all the time, but I'm tearing my hair trying it in Illustrator. I'm having to switch back and forth between the eye dropper and the text tool over and over and over, to choose the text tool, select the text I'm adjusting, switch to the eydropper, select the style I'm copying, then rinse and repeat about 100 times. I think I'm developing carpal tunnel syndrome just thinkin about it.

Note:
• YES, I have all the boxes checked for text styles in the settings for the eydropper tool.
• NO, I cannot just select all the text boxes at once and apply the selected style with one click. The reason is that the typeface I'm using has bad kerning (client font choice, not mine), and I need to adjust the kerning/tracking every time numbers appear in a line of text. This means that I can't apply the same kerning to the whole line or text box. It has to be done manually to specific characters within the text.

In Indesign this process is as easy as holding the alt key while applying the selected eyedropper style as many times as I need to text anywhere on the page. Does Illustrator allow this same quick and easy eyedropper application? If so, how?

    Correct answer Monika Gause
    @PinkKitty  schrieb:

    When I hold the option it turns the eyedropper into the hand, in AI2024 ANY THOUGHTS?

     

     

    Probably the text is selected.

    4 replies

    A
    Aditya Angelo Fernandes
    New Participant
    February 18, 2024

    Hannah, I have the answer! Been struggling with this for a while too and I just figured it out. 

     

    The feature works when you AREN'T actively selecting the text or text box. 

     

    1. Make sure you havent selected anything, I use cmd-shift-A to deselect whatever is selected. 

    2. Tap "I" for eyedropper

    3. Click on the text that has the style you wanna copy

    4. This is the tricky part. Hold option and you'll see the cursor change direction. 

    5. Identify the text you wanna apply the style to

    6. While still holding option, drag from the start to the end of the text.

    7. Let go of the mouse and you'll see the style change. 

     

    The confusing part is not being able to see the cursor selecting / applying the style as you drag over the text but it does work! 


    Woohoo I'm so happy I figured this out! Thanks for asking the question in the first place and for giving me the chance to share my discovery with you all. 

      A
      Aditya Angelo Fernandes
      New Participant
      February 18, 2024

      Here is a screen recording of what I did. Hope it helps!

      J
      Jason24781536gr44
      New Participant
      December 14, 2023

      Any updates on this? I too have been looking for answers.. Kurt has identified the issue below.. but still am unaware of how to use it? Have you figured it out?

      Monika Gause
      Monika Gause
      Adobe Expert
      December 14, 2023

      With the eyedropper click on the chracter you want to pick up the attributes from. Then hold down the alt key and drag over the characters you want to apply it to.

      J
      Jason24781536gr44
      New Participant
      December 18, 2023

      Thank you but when I hold down alt (option key, using mac) it gives me the hand/grab symbol. I'm pretty sure this is the shortcut that I used to use but since CC it seems to be gone or changed, or maybe there is a setting somewhere I need to change but I have no idea what to do, I've been at a loss for years trying to figure this out.. Is holding alt key working for you still? 

      Kurt Gold
      Kurt Gold
      Adobe Expert
      July 16, 2022

      Hannah,

       

      "… applying text styles to multiple segments of text" may have different meanings in this context.

       

      Is this what you are looking for?

       

       

      Or is it something else?

       

        J
        Jason24781536gr44
        New Participant
        December 14, 2023

        I've been searching for this feature for years too.. It has either been changed or removed since CC... you've correctly identified it yes but how do we use it? This has been such a pain trying to find this feature I need it constantly for menu designs etc..

        barbara_a7746676
        barbara_a7746676
        Adobe Expert
        July 16, 2022

        With the black Selection tool, select the text box that you want to apply text characteristics to. (Do not select the text box that you want to copy the text characteristics from.)

        Select the Eyedropper tool. (Do not hold down Alt.)

        Click on the text that has the characteristics that you want to apply.

         

        P
        packaging specialist
        Inspiring
        February 19, 2024
        Window/Operations (that's what it's called in my version of AI). 
        Record your own operation using the desired text attributes, 
        then apply this operation to selected parts of the text.


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