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Participant
July 26, 2023
Answered

Illustrator won't let me fill in color

  • July 26, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 11660 views

I'm very beginner so I have no clue where to even begin looking for the reason why.

I'm attempting to color fill using the live paint bucket tool, but Illustrator blocks it on every layer. Mousing over the layers, there's a little circle with a dash through it next to the paint tool by my cursor.

 

😞

 

 

Correct answer Doug A Roberts

It looks like you've only got a path selected. The live paint tool works by filling areas bounded by paths. If there's no boundaries, there's nothing to fill.

3 replies

Kurt Gold
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 26, 2023

Also, take a look at the Gap Detection options when using Live Paint.

 

Doug A Roberts
Community Expert
Doug A RobertsCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
July 26, 2023

It looks like you've only got a path selected. The live paint tool works by filling areas bounded by paths. If there's no boundaries, there's nothing to fill.

Participant
July 26, 2023

I appreciate it! Thank you. 

Mylenium
Legend
July 26, 2023

It might really help if you actually read the online help. That's just not how things in AI work. You simply select the object and change its fill color in the attributes or by directly clicking on a color swatch/ changing the color sliders. The Live Paint tools have a different meaning and would require the artwork to be converted to a Live paint group first.

 

Mylenium

Participant
July 26, 2023

I appreciate the feedback, thank you!