What is the difference between paint brush and blob brush and can I change between the two in hindsight?

[emmakatherineh]

I have been using illustrator to create a complex pattern from medieval sources, its so irregular I had to physically draw it using my tablet rather than by shapes. However I have just realized that one section I drew using the paint brush tool instead of the blob brush that I had been using. I'm not sure If i was using the right tool to begin with but now the sections don't fit together on the overall image even though they are the same pt size etc. Can I somehow change how they were drawn quickly or do I need to redraw the object? Sorry for my naiveity i'm just learning.

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

The blob brush draws stokes that are immediately expanded into shapes.

The brush tool draws paths that have a brush stroke applied. So you can easily change the path and you can change all brush options (including the option to apply a completely different brush).

You can easily just expand the brush stroke. Select all the paths that you have drawn with the brush tool and use Object > Expand apperance. Depending on the other blob brush settings you might need to also use pathfinder functions in order to combine all the shapes.

You should read the help pages about the tools:

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/brushes.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/painting-fills-strokes.html

Illustrator Help | Using the Blob Brush and Eraser tools

[emmakatherineh]

Thank you so much. I will start playing around now!

[Monika Gause]

You're welcome and Happy Painting!

[F9]

thanks for those links