Type in Appearance Panel

[MahaB82A]

I have confusion over this. When is this TYPE icon appearing?

[Monika Gause]

This can happen where there has been an appearance, but it has not been cleared fully.

Just click on "Clear appearance" with the text object selected to get rid of it. In order to figure it out, I would need the AI file.

[MahaB82A]

What have I to do to make this icon visible?

[Doug A Roberts]

Apply a stroke or fill to the type object at Object level, then switch to Character level.

Your first screenshot has the Character appearance shown. Your second has Type (the Object level) appearance shown.

Example:

1. Type object is selected with the Type tool. Character level appearance is shown. There are stroke/fill and effect icons next to 'Type' to indicate that there is a stroke or fill and effects applied at Object level:

2. Object level appearance (double-click on 'Type' in previous screenshot or select with a selection arrow). There is a blue fill and Transform effect applied:

3. Type object selected with type tool. There are no appearences applied at object level - 'Type: No appearance' is there to indicate this:

[MahaB82A]

It does not come. Video is attached.

[Doug A Roberts · Accepted solution]

That's because there is no appearance applied at Object level. Do the following:

1. Select the type with a selection arrow.

2. Apply a fill in the appearance panel.

3. Double-click on 'Characters' or select the type object with the Type tool.

[MahaB82A]

Thanks for the help.

What is meant by "Indicates Appearance Contains Paint"

[Doug A Roberts]

It means strokes or fills.

[MahaB82A]

When appearance applied at Object level there is a slight color change. What is the reason for that? This color change is used in poster design as well.

[Monika Gause]

Please share the file. Based on that screenshot it cannot be solved. The file needs to contain both that object and another one for color comparison.

[MahaB82A]

Video is uploaded please see whether you can see the issue. Bottom text is a copy of a top one. It only the top one activated in apprence panel. You can compare  both text. You may notice top text underwent subtle color change when it activated in appearance panel.   

[Monika Gause]

Please share an Illustrator file.

[MahaB82A]

https://easyupload.io/iu056q

[Monika Gause]

You applied 2 different colors.

https://youtu.be/nqwIZEvcXm4 

[Ton Frederiks]

The top one is filled with a different color.

[Doug A Roberts]

That's CMYK black. Did you use a CMYK document profile and change the colour mode to RGB?

[MahaB82A]

Bottom text is a copy of top text. When activated bottom text in the appearance panel it gets a color of near black not black. I do not why. Is it a default color? Video is attached. 

[Doug A Roberts]

It would be a default colour if you used a CMYK document profile and changed the colour mode to RGB.

[MahaB82A]

That mean you say it defult to previous color you used.

[Monika Gause]

When creating a new document, make sure that you do not change the color mode in this menu and that you do not get a warning sign such as this:

Instead select the document profile for the medium you want to publish to:

Print, Web, Mobile, Video

[Doug A Roberts]

Actually I think this may be a bug or at least an oversight. Can you check too @Monika Gause ?

1. Create a new document with Web profile, don't edit any settings

2. Create an object.

3. Clear appearance.

4. Click Add New Fill in the appearance panel

Result: A CMYK black fill is added

There is no CMYK black swatch in the document or graphic styles.

[Monika Gause]

Actually I think this may be a bug or at least an oversight. Can you check too @Monika Gause ?

By @Doug A Roberts

You mean like this?

Yes, happens to me as well:

https://youtu.be/Yj6vaHgUXTc

[Ton Frederiks]

Same in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

[Monika Gause]

You have no appearance on your text object.

Do like this: https://youtu.be/EEYwglNhWc8