Ai won’t change the fill of an object when using Shape Builder exactly according to rules
A minor quirk of the Shape Builder.
Following this post by Hanako Igarashi (hamko): https://x.com/hamko1114/status/2035911311763399048?s=20
As per the post, when Shape Builder tool is selected, the color chosen in the Color panel, Swatches, or Color Picker, won’t recolor the selected objects (that is a big difference with Live Paint tools, that would recolor the selection, unless a 'Live Paint Select' selection is made), but use the set color to force on a result of the next Shape Builder Union operation.
This happens only when 'Pick Color From' option is set to 'Swatches' in the tool’s options (called by Enter)... and it happens to be the default behavior I get when I reset the Preferences! Plus, the 'Cursor Swatch Preview' option seems to be disabled, and it makes the use of keys in the Live Paint style unclear...
We have two helpx articles on this, and the second helps here:
1. https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/creating-shapes-shape-builder-tool.html
2. https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/building-new-shapes-using-shape.html#setting_the_shape_builder_tool_options
So we can sort this out... It’s just odd the default option the default article suggest isn’t a default one used.
However, with the 'Swatches' option enabled, if I temporarily hold Cmd/Ctrl while using Shape Builder, to pick a Selection tool, and select an object, the color in Color, Fill/Stroke, Swatches, Control, Appearance, Properties — all places that display the current color — won’t update to the actual current fill used by the object, nor allow to change the color, as if Shape Builder overruling still, despite Cmd/Ctrl is being held.
I think this should be changed.
AdminEgor Chistyakov
(Admin, Adobe Illustrator)
shared this idea
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hamko1114
commented
Thanks for sorting out this confusing situation, Egor!
I’ve been using the Shape Builder Tool for years and didn’t know this option existed.
If “Pick Color From: Swatches” is the default, “Cursor Swatch Preview” should be on as well.
Alternatively, “Pick Color From: Artwork” could be the default—it’s easier for most people to predict the result.Also, not being able to change the selected object’s color from panels like Color while using the Shape Builder Tool isn’t great. It’s confusing and should be improved.