Why can't I use the paintbrush tool?

[_Mimi_Klotz_]

I'm trying to paint on an image and when I mouse over where I want to paint I get the "prohibited" symbol and can't paint. I opened other .jpgs and was able to paint with no problem. Is there a type of file that you can't use the paintbrush tool on? Please help!

[Scott Falkner]

You are not using the paintbrush tool on any images. You are importing the image into a new Illustrator file and drawing objects above the imported image. Your problem might be that you have a locked layer active. Look in the Layers panel.

And ALWAYS tell us the version number of the program(s) you are using.

[_Karen_Zachary_]

I have the same problem. I scanned a drawing, and I want to paint on it. I have no locked layers. I'm in CS2 Illustrator. What do I need to do?

[_Stephen_Fish_]

Karen:

What do you mean by "paint on it?" What tools are you using and what will the result be?

steve

[_Devorah_Wajsbort_]

I opened up a pdf file in Illustrator CS4 and I want to check the percentages of the colours in CMYK. However, when I click on the paintbrush tool, I get the "prohibited" symbol (the circle with a line across it). Why can't I access this tool? Is there any other way to check the CMYK percentages?

[Kurt Gold · Accepted solution]

Devorah,

the Paintbrush tool is not designed to measure CMYK percentages. It is a drawing tool.

To check your percentages, select or direct select the desired objects and take a look at the Colours Palette or the Information Palette.

[lilsmidge71]

I had the same problem.  It's because you have to go to your "brushes" in the layer palette and select a brush size.  Then you can use your brush 

[unique15]

Yes, you are right ! thanks for replying !

[avid_play0D4C]

Thanks, had this error for a while. Great to finally know what I am doing wrong.

[Rijan84]

hehehe Ty very much Problem solved

[Mastikhor]

Thanks Dude

[nicoles62932897]

It worked! Woop Woop! It was a brushes panel issue. Thank you for sharing lilsmidge!

[Nicholas_Art Director]

I found this to be a way around this issue:

Open the image that you want to draw on, keep that in its own RGB window.

Open a brand new document, CMYK.

Activate your Brush and draw a few lines on your artboard.

Then, copy and paste your RGB image into this new CMYK color space.

Voila. I think the Brush can only be used in a CMYK color space. And sometimes this does not work when you convert your document to a color space inside the RGB document.

Hope this helps. If anyone else has an alternative, let me know.

I've always had this issue with the Brush.

[lilsmidge71]

Weird. My problem was that I needed to also choose the brush as the same

size that was also the brush chosen on the tools bar. I believe I got the

answer from someone in your forum some months hack.

Thanks,

Michelle

On Sun, Nov 25, 2012 at 10:06 AM, StevefromFierce

[Vero]

Load a brush first. That way you will be able to use the paintbrush tool. I usaly open the Brushes palette first, then click on its menu and select Open Brush Library to be able to select the brush I want.

[healzdogg]

Thank you Vero! This worked. Awesome.

[conrad_danger]

Sorry, new to the forums, I looked up this problem to see what was causing it. The only solution Ive found (running CS5) is to open a new document, drag photo into that then paint on new layer. Sorry this is a million years too late.

[Chester The Artist]

Hi everyone, I found that the issue is caused by opening a source file directly in Illustrator. In other words, you will not be able to use the brush tool on a file that was opened with illustrator without re-saving it - You would have to save it as an alternate file type (ai, eps, etc) and reopen the file to enable the brush editing function. For example: You have a .png file and you open it with Illustrator, you will not be able to use the brush tool. Now, if you save that file as an .ai file, close, and re-open the file, I will now be able to use the brush tool. Hope this helps.

-Cheers!

[Doug A Roberts]

this isn't true. it's simply because an opened raster file won't have any brushes in it ('basic' is not a brush). define a brush first and draw away.

[Chester The Artist]

Awesome. Thanks for your feedback dougofakkad‌ - That worked perfectly. Have a spectacular day!

[shelly1958]

I have a weird situation...not sure if I can explain or not.....I was playing around with an image....and have no problem using the color black on paint brush....but when I change to the color white...I can't paint on that layer...?  

[Monika Gause]

Is there a brush in the brushes panel? Other than "Basic" of course, which is not the brush but the absence of a brush.

[shelly1958]

I am new here...is this in response to my question Monika?

[Monika Gause]

If you read the forum on the website, you will be able to see (will be in your language then):

[CutlassKelley]

The only other options I've been able to find in "brushes" are the fancy brush styles.  I just want to paint over something quickly, it's so simple in every other application, and yet it's taking me all afternoon to find a solution to it.  Ugh!