illustrator

Hello
i've just started using illustrator, and I have a problem, when I want to fill the drawing/image the fill falls outside it's intended place -or not fill the whole area- and follows the paths but the paths I have drawn when just stroked look as I intended. If that makes sense?! It probably didn't so here's an image. i've tried grouping, seem to have tried everything....! Please help

Nice drawing if it's yours.

I don't use Illustrator (I use PhotoShop CS) so I'm not sure of the problem, can only go on what I see.

I notice a lot of 'interference' around the lines in the image. If you're trying to select a whole area, this interference may be confusing the tool you're using and causing the fill to affect the wrong areas.

Ive got a tutorial on my site for doing colouring in photoshop just like this.

part 1 - http://www.sypher-design.co.uk/tutor...orial.php?id=8
part 2 - http://www.sypher-design.co.uk/tutor...orial.php?id=9

Hope it can help you

Hello
Thanks it is my drawing. I'm pretty good in photoshop well experienced, but illustrator is at the moment frustrating- just want to start doing vector graphics- those grubby marks came from when i saved it as a jpeg hopefully I'll figure out how to have a cleaner when I need to. For now the similarities with photoshop and the dissimilarities are driving me nuts.
Anyway I joined all the paths so they were closed only the fill colour didn't seem to know that-which, when you do it it photoshop works a treat.
Appreciate your reply I'm just on a steeep learning curve and not over the hump....!

You sure you can't do vector graphics in PhotoShop as well??
If you already use it, it might make your life easier.

Ye you can do the same thing with gradients in ps.

And those 'grubby' marks are usually introduced if you compress the image too much. If you're intending a vector image you could save it as a gif and increase the compression slightly until you're ready to save a final image and then just play around with the levels until it looks ok.

Hello
As far as I know you can't do vector in photoshop- I like photoshop and would sit within the programme most of the time..! i want to start doing stuff for print - so illustartor seems to be the way to go. I'm not so worried about the grubby marks -just yet- it was when I rambling on and trying to expain I thought i'd just show what I meant. I just want illustrator to work with me rather than against me- but I think photoshop was like that in the beginning. Anyway I did manage to colour the area -but it was very time consuming I know out there is a better way... hey ho

but thanks for all the responses.

Scan in your photo are a high dpi. Solves the print issues.

hi,

the reason why the red is leaknig outside of the line, is because the outlining of the arm isnt one line..it is made from different lines which arent joint together...so that leak is caused from that one line..and only fills in from one end to the other...hope that helps ^^

Hello
Yes it does, sort of, I have a lot to learn n this programme. But I like all the bits that come along shipped with it, I suppose then my next question is if I want a draw an image with the pencil and brush _cos it looks more like a "proper" drawing how do I colour it it? or am I just looking forshort cuts which just aren't there?
Cheers

As a vector image you will areas of single colours.
The best way I can think of would be to create an outline of the area you wish to fill, using the same colour you intend to fill it with, then just fill it.
The fill area will have no 'open' edges so it will fully contain the fill.
Bit like a kids' colouring book.

Make a line art layer, set it to multiply.
Make a layer below and colour on that one. Make as many layers as possible to solve the problem of making any mistakes.

you can do vector art in photoshop - u can also use smart objects

Don't know if this helps! if you draw using a continuous line to make the arm shape, have your colour boxes set to no infill and black stroke (at the bottom of the tool box like in photopshop). This means you can see what your doing. When finished, click the infill box, choose your red colour and fill. Add finger details with strokes in black with no infill. Treat each section as one seperate item. You can save and make a copy to test in photoshop. Unless you set your colour boxes illustrator fills in each path you make even if there not joined.

Hello
Just like to say thanks for all your responses and help. I upgraded my programmes and it seems to have solved my problem- a bad workman blaming her tools springs to mind...!
cheers

lol well done.