Convert area in between paths in shape to fill in with gradiant

[Alexandre Brandt]

Hello,

I've made a shape with the Pen and Ellipse tools. Essentially my shape is composed of lines and circles. Three circles of different shapes lying on each other and four lines separating the circles.

I would like to make each empty/background area independent from one another in order to be able to fill them with gradients independently. As a result I would end up with 3x8 shapes.

I believe there is a way to convert the inter area of different paths into one solid shape. Perhaps that would be the approach.

Below is the outline view.

Thank you !

PS. How can I make sure my horizontal and vertical crosshair is actually perfect?

[SJRiegel · Accepted solution]

This is a job for Live Paint. Select All, and from the menu, Object > Live Paint >Make

You will then be able to use the Live Paint Bucket to fill all of the areas.

[Ton Frederiks]

Or you can select all and click Divide in the Pathfinder Panel and Ungroup the result.

[michelew83603738]

Both options are excellent ideas and will work. Just depends on whether you have a need to keep the circle intact. If so, use Live Trace. If not, you can use the Divide option if you prefer. It will however, result in more anchor points in your file. 

[Alexandre Brandt]

Hello guys

Thanks for the suggestions.
Yes, I would like to keep the circle intact in fact.

So how would I use the Live Trace with Live Paint? Or must I use Live Trace only with the Pathfinder?

Thanks

[Doug A Roberts]

I think michel made a typo there, because live trace shouldn't be relevant here.