Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 5/20/2008

Question
QUESTION: I scan my sketches, clean them up in Photoshop, and then import them into
Illustrator 8.0. Two questions: (1) What is the best way to color non-closed
shapes (such as faces) in Illustrator and (2) How is the best way to create
shadows along edges? Is there anything like the magic wand tool in
Photoshop whereby I can color within separate shapes without the color
spilling over into the next shape? (I know about the new Gap Option in CS,
but I cannot afford it right now.) When I look at the Sunday comics, it seems
that most of these comics have open shapes in them but are nicely colorized.
Can you help? Thanks!

ANSWER: Hi Randy

I actually do this a lot so here is my solution:

Place your b&w image on a separate layer, with your color on the layer below. This way you can custom color your image and add shadows, etc. as shapes and use the B&W image to cover up your edges, etc. and you do not have to worry about open paths.

Thanks

Kevin




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Kevin, I feel dumb for asking this, but I guess I don't know how you get color
"behind" the b/w layer. Can you give me a quick step by step on this? I placed
the AI b/w linework on one layer, then created another layer beneath that one.
But the color does not show. Help again, please? :)

ANSWER: Hi Randy,

I am assuming that you have a fill going on with your design, which is covering up your color underneath. You need to make sure your design on the upper layer has no fill or compound paths to show the color below.

I draw my designs using open paths and shapes with no fill instead of white.

Try this and see if it works.

Thanks

Kevin




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Kevin, I tried this and I am getting the hang of it now. Since I am still using
Streamline, I save my artwork as AI in that and then open up that file in
Illustrator 8. I am able to color underneath most of the artwork, but some
closes spaces, such as the circular eyes I have drawn, will still not allow me to
color underneath. I have not put any fill in anything, but still these closed
paths will not allow me to color underneath them. Is that the way it works,
i.e., you can color underneath open paths but not closed paths? Thanks
again. Randy

Answer
Ah Randy,

This is where telling me the version number and software you are using would have helped immensely. You will need to change your closed paths into a compound path (select both the center filled with white and the outside object and go to Object>paths>compound path>create compound path).

This will take care of that.

Kevin