Filling a path created with the Pen tool in Adobe Illustrator is a fundamental process that allows you to give your shapes solid colors, gradients, or patterns. While the most direct method involves selecting the path and choosing a fill color, another workflow, as highlighted in some tutorials, involves finalizing the path or design element using the Expand command after creation.
Applying a Basic Fill to a Pen Path
The most common way to fill a closed path you've drawn with the Pen tool is straightforward:
- Complete Your Path: Draw your desired shape using the Pen tool (P). Ensure the path is closed (connecting the end point back to the start point). A closed path is required for a solid fill.
- Select the Path: Switch to the Selection Tool (V) and click on the path you want to fill.
- Choose a Fill Color:
- Look at the Fill and Stroke boxes in the Toolbar or the Properties panel. The Fill box is the solid square, usually above the Stroke box (the hollow square outline).
- Click on the Fill box to bring it to the front, indicating you are about to modify the fill.
- Select a color from:
- The Swatches panel (Window > Swatches).
- The Color panel (Window > Color).
- The color picker in the Control bar (at the top of the screen) or Properties panel.
- Alternatively, you can double-click the Fill box in the Toolbar to open the Color Picker and choose a custom color.
Once you select a color, your closed path will be filled.
Finalizing and Expanding Filled or Stroked Paths
As seen in some design workflows, after you have finished drawing and potentially applied fills or strokes, a step involving the Expand command is used to finalize the design elements. This is particularly common when:
- You've applied a stroke to the path and want to convert that stroke into a filled shape itself.
- You've used tools like the Shape Builder Tool based on your paths, and want to finalize the resulting shapes and their fills/strokes.
- You have applied live effects or appearances that you want to convert into editable paths.
The process described involves using the Selection Tool after completing your work and then using the Expand command:
- Finish Your Design: Complete drawing your path(s) or creating shapes based on them.
- Select Elements: Go back to your Selection Tool (V) and select the path or object(s) you wish to finalize.
- Expand the Appearance: Go to the Object menu and select Expand...
- Confirm Expansion: A dialog box will appear. Often, you can simply click OK to accept the default settings (which typically include expanding Fill and Stroke).
What does Expand do in relation to Fill?
While not directly applying a fill color, the Expand command can:
- Convert Strokes: If your path had a stroke, Expand will turn the stroke into a new filled shape outlines. The original path outline remains (though often grouped with the new shape). The new shapes resulting from the expanded stroke will have a fill color corresponding to the stroke color.
- Finalize Fills/Strokes: When working with more complex constructions (like using Shape Builder on overlapping paths that result in new filled areas), Expand helps finalize these areas into standard, editable filled shapes.
This Object > Expand step is often crucial for preparing artwork for export or further editing, ensuring that strokes and appearances are converted into tangible, filled shapes.
Summary Table: Methods related to Filling Paths
| Method | Action | Primary Use Case | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selection + Swatch/Color | Select closed path, choose fill color. | Directly apply a color fill to a shape. | Filled closed path. |
| Selection + Object > Expand | Select object (path with stroke, grouped shapes), use Expand. | Finalize appearance, convert strokes to fills. | New filled shape(s) derived from stroke/appearance. |
Understanding both methods provides a comprehensive view of how fills are handled and finalized within Illustrator workflows.
