Pen Tool is only giving me black lines, once photo layer is toggled off

[Sianio-Hare]

Hi, I didn't even know what Illustrator was until about a week ago, so bare with me. 

I brought in a photo. Then on a layer above I sketched over it with the Pen Tool. I chose the colour using the picker tool to match the photo, I chose my thickness and style of line, rounded the ends, but then when I toggle off the photo to leave just my Pen Tool outline, it's just black. When I toggle on the view for the photo again, each line is the colour I want them to be. When I try and change the colours again, it removes all my settings; the thickness, style and rounded corners. 

Any ideas?

[Doug A Roberts]

Can you select one of those lines and show the appearance panel?

[SJRiegel]

As far as I can see, the colors are still there, and still the same. Your eye is fooled by the differences in contrast.

 

It's like the checkerboard illusion.

[Sianio-Hare · Accepted solution]

Wow. That's insane (and embarrassing!) 

I never thought I could be fooled that easily, but I can see exactly what you mean from the link you've provided. 

Thanks so much for your help. 

[kphotopage · Accepted solution]

I totally agree with SJRiegel.

Here I used the eyedropper to sample the colors used on both images.

The conclusion is the colors are identical.

It just an illusion.

K

[Sianio-Hare]

Oh my gosh. That seems so simple. Thanks so much for taking the time to do that. I knew I wasn't going to be good at this straight off the bat, but not being able to identify colours wasn't an issue I expected! Nevermind. More practive required. Thanks for your help.

[kphotopage]

Sianio, for someone who didn’t know what Illustrator was just a week ago, give yourself a BIG pat on your back.

Glad members here could help.

No need to apologize or to be embarrassed!

We all have been there.

K