12 Replies Latest reply: May 16, 2013 11:33 AM by AlexanderGraphicArts

Why can't I get my new default stroke & fill to work in my doc?

LeslieInV Apr 25, 2013 2:07 PM

I'm using InDesign CS 5.5 for Window & I'm trying to change my default stroke & fill. In my document I have deselected everything (Shift-Crtl-A), then selected the line tool, then selected a stroke color. This is what the top of my screen looks like:

When I draw the next line, it's invisible having no color what so ever. I've tried the same thing with rectangles & setting a fill; I get the same result, invisible objects.

I have been able to change their colors after I draw them, but I'd rather draw the color I want them to start with.

Any hints?

1. Re: Why can't I get my new default stroke & fill to work in my doc?

Michael Gianino Apr 25, 2013 9:23 PM (in response to LeslieInV)

In Mac OS, my Stroke pannel looks like this:
Make sure you have the weight and type set correctly. Your screen shot shows 1 pixel stroke weight. Mine shows 1 point. I don't do web layouts, so I don't know if this is a factor, but it's something I noticed.
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2. Re: Why can't I get my new default stroke & fill to work in my doc?

LeslieInV Apr 26, 2013 6:23 AM (in response to Michael Gianino)

Thank you for comparing, but my Windows version doesn't even have points as an option, it only shows pixels (px).
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3. Re: Why can't I get my new default stroke & fill to work in my doc?

Peter Spier Apr 26, 2013 7:10 AM (in response to LeslieInV)

That's because your document is set of for web or device, rather than print.
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4. Re: Why can't I get my new default stroke & fill to work in my doc?

LeslieInV Apr 26, 2013 7:48 AM (in response to Peter Spier)

That makes sense, this is for an online presentation. I don't think that would affect default colors for stroke or fill tho.
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5. Re: Why can't I get my new default stroke & fill to work in my doc?

Peter Spier Apr 26, 2013 4:27 PM (in response to LeslieInV)

Nor do I. And it works as expected, here, so see Replace Your Preferences
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6. Re: Why can't I get my new default stroke & fill to work in my doc?

LeslieInV May 10, 2013 12:35 PM (in response to Peter Spier)

I tried that, but it appears the problem is embedded somewhere in the files I've been copying and reusing. New ones are behaving as expected, but every time I make a new line or rectangle and then release the mouse button, the object & the settings change so that it's invisible, no matter what the line or rectangle stoke/fill setting was before I started drawing.
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7. Re: Why can't I get my new default stroke & fill to work in my doc?

Peter Spier May 10, 2013 12:40 PM (in response to LeslieInV)

Are you sure you are using the shape tools and not the frame tools (the ones with an X in them)? Frame tools always default to no stroke or fill.
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8. Re: Why can't I get my new default stroke & fill to work in my doc?

LeslieInV May 10, 2013 12:41 PM (in response to LeslieInV)

Just tired an export to IDML & opening again. Still has the problem of invisible default lines & rectangles.
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9. Re: Why can't I get my new default stroke & fill to work in my doc?

Mary Posner May 10, 2013 2:55 PM (in response to LeslieInV)

With nothing selected on the page, and the line tool selected in the tool bar, what shows as the default object style for that tool?
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10. Re: Why can't I get my new default stroke & fill to work in my doc?

LeslieInV May 12, 2013 9:26 AM (in response to Mary Posner)

It shows what I last it to, 50% gray. As soon as I draw & release the cursor, it shows no stroke & I have an invisible line.
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11. Re: Why can't I get my new default stroke & fill to work in my doc?

LeslieInV May 12, 2013 9:27 AM (in response to Peter Spier)

I checked for the tooltip & it's the shape tool.
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12. Re: Why can't I get my new default stroke & fill to work in my doc?

AlexanderGraphicArts May 16, 2013 11:33 AM (in response to LeslieInV)

I had the same problem and finally figured it out.
In object styles I had [None] selected. Once I selected [Basic Graphics Frame] it worked.
Note: I did not change the style itself, just selected it.
Then with nothing selected I changed the fill and stroke color to the color I wanted to overprint and used window>attributes and selected overprint fill and overprint stroke.
Now when I draw a line or a shape it is the color I selected and it overprints! Yay!
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