3 Replies Latest reply: Jun 21, 2010 9:02 AM by Larry G. Schneider RSS

    Misc basic questions

    Andy Bay Community Member
    Andy Bay Jun 20, 2010 7:41 AM

      A few things keep confusing me in illustrator:

       

      1. When I create a new layer, what determines where this layer is going to end up in the layer order? On a quick look it seems like the new layer is going to be created on top of the selected layer, but if the selected layer is nested inside a parent layer then it doesn't seem to appear on top of it -but rather on top of the parent layer.

       

      2. This situation happens all the time:
      I have selected a curve drawn with the pen, and I want to change its stroke color (not fill color). First I click on the stroke color box in the bottom of the toolbar (to make it active I guess) and then I use the eyedropper to sample a color from the document. But for some reason, this gives it a fill color and not a stroke color. What am I doing wrong and how do I make sure I will change the stroke color with the eyedropper and not the fill color?

       

      3. When I copy-paste something, what will determine the xy-position of where it will end up in the document?

       

      4. Is it not possible to use the eyedropper from the color picker window (like in photoshop)?

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        • 1. Re: Misc basic questions
          Monika Gause CommunityMVP
          Monika Gause Jun 20, 2010 9:00 AM (in response to Andy Bay)

          1. Normally the layer is created on top of the current layer. Press Strg/Cmd to create it on top of the layer stack

           

          2. The eyedropper samples appearances not only colors. If you want to apply the fill color of some element to the stroke of another element, press Shift when clicking on the fill.

           

          3. Paste in fron/Paste in back (CS5: Paste in Place) will also keep the position

           

          4. The color picker window in Illustrator difers from the one in PS. When sampling colors use the eye-dropper or look into the color palette, the swatches palette. The color picker window will convert spot colors for instance

          • 2. Re: Misc basic questions
            Andy Bay Community Member
            Andy Bay Jun 20, 2010 9:18 AM (in response to Monika Gause)

            Thank you very much, these answers will save me from a lot of frustration!

            • 3. Re: Misc basic questions
              Larry G. Schneider CommunityMVP
              Larry G. Schneider Jun 21, 2010 9:02 AM (in response to Andy Bay)

              If you want a new sublayer, use the layer flyout menu to add the sublayer.