How to maintain Illustrator pen tool stroke settings (size, brush, etc.) for all new paths?

[Bion_s]

I'm a newbie, so this is probably obvious, but I can't find it in any tutorials or documentation.  In Illustrator I want to maintain the stroke settings while creating several paths with the pen tool.  However, every time I start a new path, the stroke settings revert to what must be a default.  E.g. I set 16pt + Variable width profile + Basic and stroke a path.  When I start a new path, the settings revert to 1pt + Uniform + Basic, and I have to reset back to my original. Other art programs I've used maintain the tool settings most recently used until they are manually changed.  How can I get the settings to stay through multiple uses of the pen tool?  Thanks.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @deborahs26933057,

Would you mind trying to run Illustrator under a different administrator account (Windows / macOS) and checking if it helps? Also, try running Illustrator under Safe Mode (Windows / macOS) and share your observations.

If the problem persists, kindly confirm the exact version of the OS/Illustrator installed and share a small screen recording of your workflow and the problem, so I can check it with the team.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[deborahs26933057]

I can't do this, because this is my work computer. Thanks, though.

[Summit Heino]

None of this worked for me. my pen tool wont stay in the basic line type and keeps changing back to the previously used one. It wont maintain the thickness or line type i command and its ruining my project. Pen tool is literally useless.

[Monika Gause]

What do you mean with "Basic line type"? A brush?

Are you really using the pen tool? Or is it the brush tool?

What exactly are you doing there? Step by step?

[Summit Heino]

sorry *paintbutsh tool*

[Monika Gause]

A "Basic" brush is not a brush at all, but a simple stroke.

The brush tool cannot sraw with a simple stroke. It must use a brush.

In order to draw with a simple stroke, just use the pencil tool and not the brush tool.

[yuvalh20140235]

I found a different solution, but the problem may be different.

Basically I was using the brush tool but each new shape I drew didn't have a fill (I wanted it to have the exact same fill and stroke as the previous drawn shape).

Solution: double click the brush tool in the tool panel (where all the tools are - pencil, shapes, pentool ect.) - then check "fill new strokes" and voila!

[vipulp63406744]

THIS WAS GREATLY HELPFULL

[SeanE.]

Hello! I am on CC 2019 illustrator and I am having this same or similar problem. I unchecked the option mentioned above but the pen tool changes settings everytime I click a different shape. Is there a way to maintain the pen tool settings no matter what object you click? 

[Monika Gause]

What exactly is your issue? What exactly does change? Which settings are you referring to?

[Garry16B8]

yup, same problem. set stroke size and paintbrush and then select a brush and previous size is discarded.

[screen1234why]

Thank you!!! I've been googling this for days now and finding nothing - how does one even express in google-search terms what the problem is!!? anyway, this is probably exactly what I needed. Thank you

[kengita100]

Hello,

Am trying to draw with the pencil tool.but once i draw, everything goes transparent, instead of creating a path

which can show me where to fill colour with the eyedropper tool. Help

[Monika Gause]

Uncheck the option "New art has basic appearance" in the appearance panel menu.

Then apply whatever you would like the stroke to look like. New paths would then have that appearance.

[tobymikle]

Evertime I get a new computer I have to search for this and have the hardest time finding it. Thanky you! So, in order to draw brush strokes with the pen or pencil, you have to opeen appearance then cilick the little part in upper right and disselect basic appearance. It is SO hidden, not ony that, but I tried everything to use the brush tool without lag and this actually works. I have no idea why the pencil tool with brush stroke has no lag but brush with brush stroke does or why this setting is so hidden.