Polar Grid Tool Not Working Right with Live Paint Bucket

[susanr27157184]

This morning, I was able to create a polar grid with both concentric and radial rings and color each segment with different colors using the Live Paint Bucket Tool. This afternoon, when I try to apply a color to a SEGMENT of the OUTER circle, the Live Paint Bucket Tool applies the color to the entire ourter circle. I don't have any issues with the inner circles. I've turned everything off and turned it back on again twice. I was preparing to record a tutorial when the "rules seemed to change". Ugh. Any thoughts?

[lambiloon]

Hi, try to reset your preferences hope it helps otherwise maybe it changed...regards

[susanr27157184]

Thanks for responding. The problem was I had the Gap Detection turned off on the Live Paint Bucket Tool. Turned it back on and problem solved.

[barbara_a]

I'm not able to reproduce this issue. It could be that the file is corrupt. Does it happen on other files or if you close and reopen Illustrator?

It might help to reset preferences. Or you might need to reinstall Illustrator with the Adobe CC Cleaner tool.

[susanr27157184]

Thanks for responding. The problem was I had the Gap Detection turned off on the Live Paint Bucket Tool. Turned it back on and problem solved.

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

Probably the Gap detection has been turned off. Go to Object > Live paint > Gap detection. Turn it on or just change the settings (from large gaps to smaller gaps or whatever). This sometimes just happens.

[susanr27157184]

That is exactly what the problem was. Thank you! When I turned the Gap Detection back on - problem solved.

[michelew83603738]

I can't replicate your problem. Is there a gap or something else that is getting in the way? I would pull out a copy and expand to see if you are getting separate pieces or just one. I am thinking you might need to look at the gap setting, even though you used the grid tool wonky things can happen when using the Live Paint Tool.

[susanr27157184]

Thanks. I’ll try that. I’m away from computer for couple of days. I was playing with gap options in prep for filming a tutorial, so that could be an issue. I did find a workaround though. If I expand the polar grid, problem solved. But never had to do that before.

Sent from my iPhone

[susanr27157184]

Back at my computer and able to work on the issue. The problem was I had the Gap Detection turned off on the Live Paint Bucket Tool. Turned it back on and problem solved.

[Kurt Gold]

The main reason why Gap detection is required in this case is because the Polar Grid tool does not work as precisely as it should work.

That is, the radial dividers do not exactly abut upon the path of the outer ellipse. You can see that by extremely zooming in and checking the endpoint of a radial line. It's a minor imprecision, but it affects Live Paint.

[susanr27157184]

Thanks for responding. Yes, it was the Gap Detection. When I turned it back on, problem solved. Thanks!

[Jacob Bugge]

Susan,

In addition to what Kurt said, the underlying cause is the (too little known) eightfold bulging of circles and other ellipses, including each and every one in the Polar Grid, which is an inherent inaccuracy of Bezier circles and ellipses (the number of bulges being twice the number of Anchor Points) that is regularly a stumbling stone in different contexts, not least in connexion with the Polar Grid.

This again is just one of the proofs of what Kurt has said on other occasions about the nonexistence of perfect circles (and ellipses).

Apart from Live Paint, this inaccuary, in connexion with the Polar Grid and under other comparable circumstances, can also hit other tools than Live Paint such as Shape Builder and Pathfinders, and it can also be dealt with in a cruder and sometimes simpler and maybe sillier way by scaling up the radial dividers at least a wee bit, maybe less or no sillier if the unwanted excess radial divider bits disappear by themselves when the tool in question is used.

I wonder whether this was sufficiently woolly and unintelligible for a sunny day like this. I am convinced of its being silly enough.

[susanr27157184]

🙂

Finally able to get back to computer after a short trip --- the issue was that pesky Gap Detection. When I turned it back on, my problem was solved. I am once again a happy camper. Thanks for your response.

[Kurt Gold]

Jacob does explain it very well.

To underline it, you can for example draw a circle with the Ellipse tool, draw a straight stroked line from the topmost point of the circle to its centre and then copy rotate that line around the centre of the circle by 20° as soon as you get a polar grid.

If you then convert all to a Live Paint group, you will face similar issues if you try to fill the segments with the Live Paint bucket while the Gap detection is turned off.

There are no circles.

[susanr27157184]

Thanks for the response. It was the Gap Detection. When I turned it back on, problem solved!