To remove a stroke in Adobe Illustrator, select the object and then click the "Remove Brush Stroke" (or Stroke) button, which is typically represented as a crossed-out square, in the Brushes or Appearance panel.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Steps to Remove a Stroke:
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Select the Object: Using the Selection Tool (V), click on the object from which you want to remove the stroke. Ensure the object is indeed selected; a bounding box will appear around it.
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Locate the Appearance Panel: If the Appearance panel isn't visible, go to Window > Appearance. This panel controls the attributes of your object, including fill, stroke, and effects.
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Identify the Stroke Attribute: In the Appearance panel, you should see "Stroke" listed as an attribute of the selected object.
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Remove the Stroke: There are a couple of ways to remove the stroke via the appearance panel:
- Set the Stroke Weight to Zero: Click on "Stroke" in the Appearance panel. This will open the Stroke panel. Set the "Weight" field to 0 pt (zero points). This effectively makes the stroke invisible.
- Remove the Stroke Attribute: Click the "Stroke" text in the Appearance panel, and then click the trash can icon at the bottom of the panel to completely remove the stroke attribute. This removes it entirely, rather than just making it invisible.
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Alternatively, use the Control Panel (if visible): If you have the Control panel enabled (Window > Control), you will often see Stroke options directly at the top of the Illustrator window when an object is selected. You can set the Stroke weight to 0 or click the "None" swatch (represented by a white square with a red diagonal line through it) to remove the stroke.
Troubleshooting:
- Multiple Strokes: An object can have multiple strokes applied. Make sure you remove all stroke attributes from the Appearance panel if necessary.
- Grouped Objects: If you're having trouble selecting the correct object, it might be part of a group. Ungroup the objects (Object > Ungroup) or use the Group Selection Tool to select the specific object you want to modify.
- Hidden Stroke: The stroke might be set to a very small weight or the same color as the fill, making it appear invisible. Check the Stroke panel and Appearance panel to confirm the stroke settings.
- Brushes Panel The reference states the "Remove Brush Stroke button on the Brushes Palette." The Brushes panel assigns artistic brushes, like calligraphy brushes, to strokes. If a brush is applied, the appearance panel is still the best way to remove the stroke if you simply want a basic stroke, or no stroke at all. Removing a brush from the brushes panel won't remove the applied stroke from the object.
