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mimimimimimimir
Inspiring
December 9, 2017
Answered

How to keep Blob bursh & Live Paint separated?

  • December 9, 2017
  • 5 replies
  • 3097 views

Hello everyone, I wonder if anyone can give me some ideas how to work this out.

I've just started with drawing in illustrator and I really like the blob brush.

 

At first I was using just paintbrush tool + live paint, then expanding it, so the lines and fillings are on different layers. Then I can manually paint shadows on the new layer between them.

 

But paintbrush tool is kinda rough and I do way better lines with blob brush. But then I if I expand it all, everything will stay mixed. So it would be really more time wasting to try painting shadows underneath the lines.

 

 

Is there any way to group all that blob layers and for it to stay separated after live paint, or select it somehow to bring it forward?

 

Would appreciate any help!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer mimimimimimimir

Found an optimal way to separate it!

After livepainting, either go to isolation mode (if you have more than one object with same colored lines) or just straight use magic wand tool (Y) on the lines, group it. Now you have two groups - one with blob lines, second one with color fill.

Hope it might help someone with same problems.

5 replies

07制30690965
07制30690965
Participant
June 16, 2020

just check the "merge only with selection option" the blob brush now will create a separate layer.

M
mimimimimimimirAuthorCorrect answer
Inspiring
December 22, 2017

Found an optimal way to separate it!

After livepainting, either go to isolation mode (if you have more than one object with same colored lines) or just straight use magic wand tool (Y) on the lines, group it. Now you have two groups - one with blob lines, second one with color fill.

Hope it might help someone with same problems.

@mj
Community Expert
@mjCommunity Expert
Community Expert
December 9, 2017

The way I suggest you deal with shadows and highlights is to create shadow and highlight layer.

For the shadows:

  1. Deliberately paint over the the lines with the blob brush over the outlines.
  2. Change the blending mode from the transparency panel to multiply.

For the highlights.

  1. Paint where you want the highlights to appear in the color of your choice, on its own layer again.
  2. Then change the blending mode to either overlay or screen depending on the artwork you're dealing with.

HTH

    M
    mimimimimimimirAuthor
    Inspiring
    December 9, 2017

    Somehow I never thought about using effects on layers while I work in vectors. O.o I think it might be the best solution for now! Thank you!

    Ton Frederiks
    Community Expert
    Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    December 9, 2017

    Another way to add shading (or add highlights) would be to add invisible lines on the Live Paint group and merge them into the Live Paint group.

    You can then fill them with darker or lighter colors or select them with the Live Paint selection tool, and modify their color.

      Ton Frederiks
      Community Expert
      Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      December 9, 2017

      The Blob brush creates filled shapes instead of stroked paths.

      It will be difficult to have them separated from other shapes after they have been part of a Live Paint group.

      Maybe you can use the Pencil tool (N), located below the Shaper Tool.

      The Pencil creates strokes that will be in the stroke group after expanding  Live Paint.

      barbara_a7746676
      Community Expert
      barbara_a7746676Community Expert
      Community Expert
      December 9, 2017

      If you want to continue using the paintbrush but need smoother lines, you can double-click on the Paintbrush tool in the Tools panel to bring up Paintbrush Tool Options. If you increase the Fidelity setting, your lines will be smoother, although not quite as accurate.

      You'll notice that if you double-click on the Blob Brush in the Tools panel, the Fidelity option set  by default in the center so that it has a fair amount of smoothing.

      The Blob brush creates a filled shape, no stroke. However, you can add a stroke after creating the fill with the Blob brush. Then if you Object > Expand you'll have the option to expand both stroke and fill.

      Hope this helps.

        M
        mimimimimimimirAuthor
        Inspiring
        December 9, 2017

        Oh, thank you! I didn't know about these options. Changing Fidelity helps a little bit, though it'sstill different from what I want.

        I know it doesn't create strokes, and I don't really need it to be strokes (actually that's what I don't like about paintbrush. If I want to erase some parts, the whole stroke changes with it), just need a fast way to separate blob tool lines and live paint fill. If I add the stroke after creating fill - it changes the appearance too much.

        I guess I might have just to do it manually

        barbara_a7746676
        Community Expert
        barbara_a7746676Community Expert
        Community Expert
        December 9, 2017

        I may be misunderstanding what you want.

        But if you want to separate what you've drawn with the blob brush from the fills you've added with Live Paint, you can select everything and choose Object > Live Paint > Expand. That will separate all the areas.

        Does that work for you?

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