Merging Paths: Live Paint Group Techniques For Beginners

Adobe Illustrator's Live Paint tool allows users to colour their artwork freely, as they would on a canvas or paper. 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, and a face is the area enclosed by one or more edges. To merge a new path with an existing Live Paint group, users can select the new shapes and the live paint group, then go to Object > Live Paint > Merge. However, it is important to note that the Join command cannot be used on a Live Paint group. Instead, users can use the Expand function, which removes the Live Paint group, or the Pen tool to close the gaps.

Using the Live Paint Bucket tool

Adobe Illustrator's Live Paint Bucket tool lets you add colour to your artwork. The tool is easy to use and works quickly. However, it has some limitations. Firstly, your artwork must be made by paths and turned into live paint groups. Secondly, the Live Paint Bucket tool only works on closed paths or when the paths have very small gaps.

To use the Live Paint Bucket tool, first select the area or objects that you want to add colour to. Then, turn these objects into live paint groups. To do this, go to Object from the overhead toolbar while the objects are selected. Choose Live Paint and select Make from the extended menu. This will turn the objects into Live Paint Groups.

Next, select the Live Paint Bucket tool from the left toolbar or press the shortcut key (K) to activate the tool. Now, choose the colour you want your artwork to be filled with from the colour swatches. If you select a colour from the Swatches panel, the pointer changes to display three colours. The selected colour is in the middle, and the two adjacent colours are on either side. To use an adjacent colour, click the left or right arrow key.

Finally, click on the object you want to fill with the colour. You can fill multiple faces at a time by dragging across them. Double-clicking a face will fill across unstroked edges into adjacent faces (flood fill). To fill all faces that currently have the same fill, triple-click a face.

Finding and merging gaps

Live Paint Gaps are the spaces between the anchor points of objects inside a Live Paint group. These gaps are essential to Live Paint and can be used in special cases, like working with open paths. To find and merge gaps, follow these steps:

• Finding Gaps: To locate gaps in your Live Paint group, go to "View" and select "Show Live Paint Gaps." This will display any existing gaps as coloured lines, based on the preview colour you've chosen.
• Selecting Gaps: Utilise the "Direct Selection Tool" to select the Live Paint groups you want to merge. Hold down the "Shift" key and click on each group to ensure they are all chosen.
• Merging Gaps: Navigate to the "Object" menu, choose "Live Paint," and then select "Merge." This will close the gaps between the selected items.
• Verifying Merges: After merging, revisit the "Show Live Paint Gaps" option in the "View" menu to check that the merges are complete and no gaps remain.

It's important to note that when merging Live Paint groups with different gap settings, Illustrator applies specific rules to handle the gaps. If gap detection is off for all groups, gaps are closed, and gap detection is turned on with Paint Stops At set to Small Gaps. If gap detection is the same for all groups, the gaps are closed, and the gap setting is preserved. However, if gap detection is mixed, the gaps are closed, and the gap settings of the bottommost Live Paint group are retained.

Additionally, you can use the pen tool to manually close gaps by selecting the endpoint of one path and then clicking the endpoint of another. This method may not be perfect, but it offers a way to address gaps without using the "Join" function, which is not applicable to Live Paint groups.

Using the pen tool to close gaps

Adobe Illustrator offers a range of tools and methods to close gaps in Live Paint groups, including the Pen Tool, which provides precision and control over the path editing process. Here are detailed steps and guidelines on using the Pen Tool to close gaps effectively:

Selecting Anchor Points:

The first step in using the Pen Tool to close gaps is to select the appropriate anchor points on the paths. Click on an end anchor point of one path and then click on the corresponding end point of the other path. This selection will enable you to connect the paths and close the gap between them.

Creating New Anchor Points:

If the gap between the paths is significant, you may need to create additional anchor points to ensure a smooth connection. With the Pen Tool selected, click along the path to add new anchor points. These new points will allow you to adjust the path and close the gap accurately.

Drawing Lines and Curves:

The Pen Tool is ideal for drawing straight lines or curves between anchor points. To draw a straight line, simply click and release between two anchor points. To create a curve, click and drag to form a smooth curve that connects the anchor points. This flexibility allows you to close gaps of various shapes and sizes.

Removing Extra Anchor Points:

After connecting the paths, you may have additional anchor points that are no longer needed. To maintain a clean and editable path, use the Pen Tool to remove these extra points. Simply select the anchor point with the Pen Tool and delete it, ensuring a smooth and continuous path.

Closing Multiple Gaps:

When dealing with complex Live Paint groups, you may encounter multiple gaps between paths. In such cases, the Pen Tool can be used to create overlapping shapes that connect multiple paths. Draw four points with the Pen Tool to create a slightly overlapping shape, and then use the "`Unite`" or "Join" function to connect all the shapes together, closing the gaps effectively.

By following these steps and practicing with the Pen Tool, you can master the art of closing gaps in Live Paint groups. Remember that precision and attention to detail are crucial when working with the Pen Tool to ensure smooth and seamless paths in your Live Paint groups.

Expanding the Live Paint group

Expanding a Live Paint group converts it into a normal group with several subgroups that contain simple paths. These paths can be edited separately using path editing tools. To expand a Live Paint group, select the group and execute the Object > Live Paint > Expand command. This will change the Live Paint group into one or more ordinary paths that are visually similar but now separate filled and stroked paths.

When you expand a Live Paint group, it will no longer have multiple colours within a single path. However, you can still achieve multiple colours in your artwork by using the Live Paint Bucket Tool, which colours the regions (called Faces) created by the intersection of paths. Before using this tool, it is recommended to create a Swatch Group in the Swatches panel, which will allow you to easily switch between colours.

Additionally, you can work on a copy of your artwork with strokes removed, having a linework layer and a colour layer. This way, you can avoid expanding or uniting anything within the Live Paint group and simply remove the strokes.

Expanding a Live Paint group provides more flexibility in editing individual paths and allows for the application of various colours and patterns to the separate paths.

Using the Live Paint Selection tool

Adobe Illustrator's Live Paint Selection tool allows you to select paths, even if they are small segments of a larger path. This means that if a shape appears to be made up of several separate objects, such as an "X" shape which could be visually broken down into four separate lines, the Live Paint Selection tool can select each individual segment.

To use the Live Paint Selection tool, you must first isolate the objects you want to work with by creating a Live Paint group. Do this by selecting the objects you want in the group, then choosing Object > Live Paint > Make. With the Live Paint group still selected, go back up to the Object Menu, then Live Paint, and choose Gap Options.

The Live Paint Selection tool shares space with the Shape Builder and Live Paint Bucket tools. To set its options, double-click on it and choose to allow the tool to select fills only, strokes only, or both. Choose a highlight colour and thickness for displaying the selection. These options are just for display purposes while working with the selections.

With the Live Paint Selection tool selected, roll over the elements of your Live Paint group. Each segment of a stroke and each enclosed path's fill will be highlighted. Click on any element and make changes to its stroke or fill colours. You can delete any object that you don't want. To modify an element, double-click with the Selection tool to enter Isolation Mode. Make any changes, then hit Escape.

The Live Paint Selection tool can also be used to apply different gradients across different faces in a Live Paint group. The pointer changes to the face pointer when it's positioned over a face, the edge pointer when it's over an edge, or the X pointer when it's positioned outside of a Live Paint group.

Frequently asked questions