Live Painting In Illustrator: Keep Your Layers Intact

Adobe Illustrator is a powerful tool for creating vector illustrations and artwork, with a multitude of tools and presets to apply colour to objects. One of the most useful features is the Live Paint tool, which allows users to colour their artwork freely, as they would a drawing on paper. Live Paint groups can be created by selecting File > New and then choosing Live Paint from the toolbar panel. Once created, each path within the group remains fully editable, and colours are reapplied automatically when paths are adjusted. This makes it easy to manage complex objects with multiple layers or paths, without losing any layers.

Create a Live Paint group

Adobe Illustrator offers two methods of painting: you can select a fill, stroke, or both for an object, or you can convert the object(s) into a Live Paint group. Live Paint is particularly useful when you want to create flat, multi-layered illustrations under one group of objects. It is also helpful when you want to colour objects with multiple faces that are not necessarily independent shapes that can be easily filled.

To create a Live Paint group, you must first import your sketched items into Illustrator. You can do this by taking a picture or scanning your sketch directly. The scanned image should be placed in the lower layer and dimmed to 50% or as per your preference. In the new layer, start tracing your sketch, creating enclosed paths using the pen tool. The enclosed path is essential for live painting as it prevents colours from flooding unwanted areas of the object.

Next, remove any unwanted strokes from the illustration, leaving just the path. To do this, select the shapes that do not require strokes and apply zero strokes to them.

Now, make a copy of your linework to use for the Live Paint group. Turn off the layer with the original linework and select everything that is left on the artboard. Go to Object > Live Paint > Make. You can now hide the lines in the Live Paint group by double-clicking the group to isolate the objects, selecting all the lines, and setting the line colour to none.

With the Live Paint method, you can paint like you would with a traditional colouring tool, without regard to layers or stacking order. You can fill each face and stroke each edge with a different colour using the Live Paint Bucket tool. You can also use the Live Paint Selection tool to directly select the fill area and multiple areas you want to edit.

Use the Live Paint Bucket tool

Adobe Illustrator offers two methods of painting: you can select a fill, stroke, or both for an object, or you can convert the object(s) into a Live Paint group. Live Paint is a useful tool when you want to create flat multi-layered illustrations under one group of objects. It is especially handy when you want to fill illustrations with multiple faces that are not necessarily independent shapes.

To use the Live Paint Bucket tool, first, create a Live Paint group by selecting everything on the artboard (the lines for the live paint group). Then, go to Object > Live Paint > Make. To isolate the objects, double-click the live paint group, select all the lines, and set the line colour to none. Now, click on the Live Paint Bucket tool and start painting. You can fill each face and stroke each edge with a different colour, pattern, or gradient.

The paintable parts of Live Paint groups are called edges and faces. An edge is the portion of a path between where it intersects with other paths. A face is the area enclosed by one or more edges. You can stroke edges and fill faces. For example, a circle with a line drawn across it will have two faces when it is a Live Paint group, and you can fill each face and stroke each edge with a different colour.

You can also use the Live Paint Selection tool to directly select the fill area and multiple areas you want to edit.

Edit Live Paint groups

To edit Live Paint groups in Adobe Illustrator, you must first create a Live Paint group. This can be done by selecting the overlapping paths you want to colour and executing the Object > Live Paint > Make command. Alternatively, you can use the Live Paint Bucket Tool under the Shape Builder Tool, selecting the overlapping paths and clicking on one of the selected items.

Once you've made a Live Paint group, each path remains fully editable. When you move or adjust a path's shape, the previously applied colours are automatically reapplied to the new regions formed by the edited paths.

To put a Live Paint group into isolation mode, use the Selection tool to double-click on the group. You can then draw another path, which Illustrator will add to the Live Paint group. Click the Exit Isolation Mode button when you're done.

To add paths to an existing Live Paint group, select the Live Paint group and the paths you want to add. Then, choose one of the following options:

• Object > Live Paint > Merge
• Click Merge Live Paint in the Control panel
• Click the Merge Live Paint button in the Quick Actions section of the Properties panel
• In the Layers panel, drag one or more paths into a Live Paint group

To use the Live Paint Bucket tool, you must first create a Live Paint Group. This is a group-like container that allows you to paint the regions (called Faces) created by the intersection of the paths. The Live Paint Bucket tool has a Cursor Swatch Preview widget that shows the current colour and makes it easy to switch colours.

To colour multiple faces at the same time, go to the Live Paint Selection Tool (under the Shape Builder) and Shift + click with the Live Paint Selection Tool.

To expand a Live Paint group, select the group and execute the Object > Live Paint > Expand command. Illustrator will convert the Live Paint group into a normal group with only simple paths.

Use the Selection tool

The Selection Tool in Adobe Illustrator is used to select, move, and resize objects or images. It is one of the most commonly used tools for object transformations.

To use the Selection Tool to live paint in Illustrator without losing layers, follow these steps:

• Create a copy of your original linework to use for the live paint group. This is because certain properties may be lost in the conversion to a Live Paint group, such as transparency and effects.
• Turn off the layer with the original linework.
• Select everything left on the artboard (the lines for the live paint group).
• Go to Object > Live Paint > Make.
• Double-click the Live Paint group to isolate the objects.
• Select all the lines and set the line color to none.
• Using the Selection Tool, double-click a Live Paint group to put it into isolation mode. Alternatively, you can click the "Isolate Selected Group" button in the Control panel.
• Draw another path. Illustrator will add the new path to the Live Paint group.
• Click "Exit Isolation Mode" when you're done adding new paths.
• Select the Live Paint group and the paths you want to add to it.
• Choose one of the following options:

• Object > Live Paint > Merge.
• Click Merge Live Paint in the Control panel.
• Click the Merge Live Paint button in the Quick Actions section of the Properties panel.
• In the Layers panel, drag one or more paths into a Live Paint group.

Note that paths inside a Live Paint group may not align exactly with similar or identical paths outside the group. Additionally, some features and commands may work differently or not be applicable to paths inside a Live Paint group.

Work with layers

Working with layers in Adobe Illustrator can be tricky, but the Live Paint tool can make the process easier and more efficient. Live Paint allows you to work with multiple layers and objects without losing the ability to edit individual elements. Here's how you can work with layers using the Live Paint feature:

Firstly, understand the basic concept of Live Paint groups. Live Paint groups allow you to treat multiple objects as if they are part of the same flat surface. This means you can fill and stroke each enclosed path or "face" independently, without worrying about layers or stacking order. This can be especially useful when dealing with complex illustrations that have multiple layers or paths.

To work with layers effectively, follow these steps:

• Create a copy of your original artwork or linework to use for the Live Paint group. This way, you can keep the original layer intact for future reference or edits.
• Turn off the visibility of the original layer and select all the remaining objects on your artboard.
• Go to the Object menu, select Live Paint, and choose "Make" to convert the selected objects into a Live Paint group.
• Double-click on the Live Paint group to isolate the objects. This will allow you to work on the group without affecting the rest of your artwork.
• Use the Live Paint Bucket tool to fill the individual faces within the group with colors, patterns, or gradients. You can also stroke each edge or path segment with a different color.
• If you need to add new paths to the Live Paint group, use the Selection tool to double-click on the group and draw additional paths. You can then exit isolation mode when you're done.
• To merge paths or objects into the Live Paint group, select the desired elements and choose one of the following options: Object > Live Paint > Merge, click Merge Live Paint in the Control panel, or click the Merge Live Paint button in the Quick Actions section of the Properties panel.
• You can also use the Layers panel to identify the contents of a group and drag paths or objects into the Live Paint group as needed.
• If you need to edit the colors or strokes within the Live Paint group, simply make the desired changes, and Illustrator will automatically reapply them to the edited paths.

By following these steps, you can effectively work with layers and maintain the flexibility to edit and adjust your artwork as needed. Live Paint groups offer a more intuitive way to color complex illustrations without losing control over individual elements.

Frequently asked questions