Illustrator Fill and Stroke -- HELP ASAP PLS

[phadam]

I just finished my project in illustrator (cs3 ver) and stayed with the same colors all the way around assuming I can go back and just use select fill stroke to play with color options later. However, I cannot just color in each individual letter. I can select one layer for a letter and use fill and stroke but it keeps coloring the entire project, all 5 letters. Can anyone help me ASAP???? pleeeeaase Thanks!

 

[covisio]

I would suggest that the shapes you are trying to modify are part of a compound path.
You need to release the compound path (Object>Compound Path>Release) to separate the objects.
Note that on letters that have 'counters' or holes, i.e. the A and the B or 8, not sure what it is, you will have to remake the compounds to make the counters visible.

 

[Jim Campbell]

I would suggest that the shapes you are trying to modify are part of a compound path.

If Covisio's very helpful advice doesn't do the trick, can you post an attachment of the original .ai file, and I/we will have another look?

Cheers!

Jim

 

[Kwill]

I would suggest that the shapes you are trying to modify are part of a compound path.
You need to release the compound path (Object>Compound Path>Release) to separate the objects.
Note that on letters that have 'counters' or holes, i.e. the A and the B or 8, not sure what it is, you will have to remake the compounds to make the counters visible.

Releasing a compound path may create more work than necessary. Generally, you want characters to remain linked in a group. If this isn't important to you I suggest one of two methods that will keep you from having to reassemble individual character counters:

• Object > Ungroup (or)
• Use Direct Selection Tool before filling shapes

None of us are certain how you constructed your art. However, from the brief description you provide, ungrouping should retain compound paths and counters. Direct selection using the second arrow (white head) allows you to fill a single path whether it's grouped or part of compound path.

 

[covisio]

Kwill, I can't see how the artwork is constructed without getting the AI file to look at directly, but if the 5 faces of the characters are a compound path, then releasing the group (if it is grouped) or using the direct select tool will not make any difference.

 

[Kwill]

Kwill, I can't see how the artwork is constructed without getting the AI file to look at directly, but if the 5 faces of the characters are a compound path, then releasing the group (if it is grouped) or using the direct select tool will not make any difference.

Appreciating the caveat, this should help you to see what I mean.

1. Type a word.
2. Convert to outlines (cmd-o).
3. Ungroup.

 

[covisio]

Appreciating the caveat, this should help you to see what I mean.

1. Type a word.
2. Convert to outlines (cmd-o).
3. Ungroup.

Exactly. A complete typed word which is converted to outlines is grouped by default, not compound paths. Only the individual letters are compound paths.
To prove the point, add a step 4: Select all the letters you just ungrouped and go Object>Compound Path>Make. Now use the direct select tool to select only one of the letters and try to fill it or stroke it. You will see that all the other letters get filled or stroked the same, whether they are selected or not. This is the nature of compound paths and is the only reason I can think of that describes what the OP is experiencing. Additionally, there is no suggestion that the letter shapes originated as typed text, and therefore would not be subject to the default behaviour described in my first paragraph.

 

[Kwill]

Exactly. A complete typed word which is converted to outlines is grouped by default, not compound paths. Only the individual letters are compound paths.

Of this I am aware. However, there is no need to break compound paths to color an individual letter.

 

[covisio]

Of this I am aware. However, there is no need to break compound paths to color an individual letter.

No, it isn't necessary to break the compound paths of an individual letter in order to colour it, BUT if all 5 letters are one complete compound path, then there is no alternative, so far as I am aware, but to release the entire compound path.
Forget text for a moment. Do this:

1. Draw 5 circles
2. Select all, and go Object>Compound Path>Make
3. Using the direct select tool, select only one of the circles.
4. Try to fill or stroke it with a different colour than the rest.

Unless this functionality changed in CS4, you I bet you can't. I don't know how I can explain it more clearly than this.

 

[Kwill]

No, it isn't necessary to break the compound paths of an individual letter in order to colour it, BUT if all 5 letters are one complete compound path, then there is no alternative, so far as I am aware, but to release the entire compound path.
Forget text for a moment. Do this:

1. Draw 5 circles
2. Select all, and go Object>Compound Path>Make
3. Using the direct select tool, select only one of the circles.
4. Try to fill or stroke it with a different colour than the rest.

Unless this functionality changed in CS4, you I bet you can't. I don't know how I can explain it more clearly than this.

I see what you mean now. That's the reason for the caveats inherent in not having access to the original art.

 

[covisio]

 

[dmz]

Compounded Compound

Kwill is wrong, Covisiio is right! If the individual cube faces are simple compound paths, then, no, there is no need to un-compound the individual faces to colorize them uniquely. However, if the individual faces are "compounded" together using the Compound command and NOT the "group" command, then yes, the behaviour you are seeing is absolutely normal. Compounded objects can be compounded with other compunded objects, then you can only colour all parts of the compound the same fill and stroke. Compounded compounds can be uncompounded one compound at a time, so that the sub-elements remain compounded - just like when you group grouped objects together - un-grouping them by steps reveals each sub-group, which can be further ungrouped with more un-group commands. Erggggggh, this is much harder to explain than it is to do!

Illustrator is the BEST!

dmz

 

[covisio]

Compounded compounds can be uncompounded one compound at a time, so that the sub-elements remain compounded

Not on my version of Illustrator they can't (CS3).

Try this:

1. Draw 5 circles
2. On one of the circles, draw a smaller circle
3. Select only these two (the one on top of the other) and make a compound path.
4. Select everything and make a compound path
5. Select everything and release the compound path

All compounds are released at the same time - no control over 'individual' compounds (such a thing does not exist - a compound is a compound, however many stages you do it in).

 

[shawnathan]

I just finished my project in illustrator (cs3 ver) and stayed with the same colors all the way around assuming I can go back and just use select fill stroke to play with color options later. However, I cannot just color in each individual letter. I can select one layer for a letter and use fill and stroke but it keeps coloring the entire project, all 5 letters. Can anyone help me ASAP???? pleeeeaase Thanks!

Definitely create outlines and and maybe even expand. Then just lock the layers that you do not want to edit, and then when you go to "Select > Same Fill and Stroke" it will only select the portion of your project that is not locked.

 

[dmz]

Huh?

Not on my version of Illustrator they can't (CS3).

But this was your advice too - and you got it right! Every version of Illustrator since 6, or whenever it was they introduced compound objects, works this way, though I skipped CS3 and went right to CS4 from CS...

puzzled...

dmz

p.s: is the OP still reading this - have we solved his problem?

 

[Kwill]

Kwill is wrong, Covisiio is right! If the individual cube faces are simple compound paths, then, no, there is no need to un-compound the individual faces to colorize them uniquely.

Actually, neither of us is wrong. The answer depends upon how the art is prepared.

Counter spaces can be produced using pathfinder or creating compound paths. After creating a character either way, the word can be compounded again (nested), as you suggest or grouped. If the latter is done and the ordinary Selection Tool is used to highlight a character, the entire word is colorized. The Direct Selection Tool can be used to select an colorize a single character.

 

[phadam]

I am on my way out the door right now. I will try this as soon as I get back in and let you know what happens. Really appreciate all the help. I'll post up results tonight. Thanks!!!

 

[dmz]

We agree!

Yes, I agree, the Direct Selection tool is the key, along with de-compounding the compounded compound, however, I still contend ungrouping the grouped group is not necessary for this to work, as I have done this countless times!

Filling a group applies the fill across all grouped objects, which is handy - applying the same fill to a selection of un-grouped objects causes the fill to be applied individually to each object - a very different result, especially if the fill you are applying is a pattern or blend/gradient. Try it and see!

dmz

 

[covisio]

This is getting wearisome now and I think the OP has probably got the point. I'd just like to reiterate that there is no such thing as a nested compound path. A compound path, so far as AI is concerned, is one single object that can only have one set of attributes, no matter how many individual vectors it is made of.
Yes, you can create compound objects by using the pathfinder tool, or by say outlining a letter A, or by selecting two shapes and using Object>Compound Path>Make. You can then select all of those individual compounds paths and go Object>Compound Path>Make again - but you cannot reverse the steps (except by undoing). If you release a compound path, no matter how many vectors is in it, or how many steps you took to create it, EVERYTHING releases, end of.
If all 5 letters in the OPs artwork are one compound path, then the OP has no alternative but to release the compound path, then go back and re-compound the A and the B/8.

 

[phadam]

i feel like I am doing something wrong here. Not even getting an option to use the compound path

 

[covisio]

Final word on this:
Turned out the OP was using symbols to create each piece of Lego, therefore an update on one of the symbols was causing all to update the same.
The solution is to go to the symbols palette and using the fly-out menu, duplicate the symbol and rename it, edit it, then replace the symbols en-masse by using 'select all instances', 'replace symbol', etc., locking and/or hiding in order to protect those you don't want to change.
Who'd have thought it.