Illustrator

Create Live Paint groups

When you want to color objects using different colors for each edge, or intersection, convert the artwork into a Live Paint Group.

Certain types of objects, such as type, bitmap images, and brushes, cannot be directly made into Live Paint groups. You first need to convert these objects into paths. For example, if you try to convert an object that uses brushes or effects, the complex visual appearance is lost in the conversion to Live Paint. However, you can retain much of the appearance by first converting the objects to regular paths and then converting the resulting paths to Live Paint.
Note: When you convert artwork to a Live Paint group, you cannot return the artwork to its original state. You can expand the group into its individual components, or release the group back to its original paths with no fill and a .5 black stroke.

For a video on using Live Paint, see www.adobe.com/go/vid0042.

Create a Live Paint group

  1. Select one or more paths, compound paths, or both.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Choose Object > Live Paint > Make.

    • Select the Live Paint Bucket tool  and click the selected object.

Note: Certain properties may be lost in the conversion to a Live Paint group, such as transparency and effects, while other objects cannot be converted (such as type, bitmap images, and brushes).

Convert objects to Live Paint groups

 Do any of the following for objects that do not directly convert to Live Paint groups:
  • For type objects, choose Type > Create Outlines. Then make the resulting paths into a Live Paint group.

  • For bitmap images, choose Object > Live Trace > Make And Convert To Live Paint.

  • For other objects, choose Object > Expand. Then make the resulting paths into a Live Paint group.