To sample a color in Adobe Illustrator, you primarily use the Eyedropper Tool. This tool allows you to quickly pick up a color from an existing object or image and apply it to another. Here’s how it works:
Using the Eyedropper Tool
The Eyedropper tool is crucial for color sampling and is straightforward to use. Here are the basic steps:
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Select the Eyedropper Tool: You can find the Eyedropper tool in the toolbar on the left-hand side of your Illustrator window. It looks like a small eyedropper. Alternatively, you can press the 'I' key on your keyboard to select it.
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Choose an Object/Color to Sample: Click on the object or area with the color you wish to sample. This is the source color. The Eyedropper will select and grab the color automatically.
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Apply the Sampled Color: Next, select the object where you want to apply the sampled color. After selecting this object, the fill or stroke color will be updated to match the color sampled using the eyedropper tool.
Advanced Tips and Techniques
While the basic use of the eyedropper is simple, there are several techniques that expand its usage:
- Sampling Stroke Color: As noted in the reference, if the stroke icon is on top and you select an object with the eyedropper tool it changes the stroke color, otherwise, it will change the fill color.
- Isolating Color Change: According to the video reference, the eyedropper tool will change color. So, to only sample the color, make sure the stroke icon is on top (if you want to change stroke color), and then, hold the shift key while sampling the color. Doing so will only change the stroke or fill color based on what you have selected. This is especially useful when trying to make precise changes without altering other object properties.
- Working with Images: You can also sample colors from raster images placed within your Illustrator documents.
- Understanding the Visual: The reference mentions a dotted line around the object. The dotted line indicates an object is selected, and when you use the eyedropper, you are changing this selected object's fill or stroke color.
- Stroke and Fill Selection: In illustrator, objects can have a stroke, a fill, or both. Before using the eyedropper, make sure either the stroke icon or the fill icon is on top in the appearance panel of your workspace, that way, you are applying color correctly.
Practical Example
Imagine you want to match a color from a logo image to the fill of a new shape:
- Select your newly created shape.
- Select the eyedropper tool ('I').
- Click on the color of the logo you want to sample.
- The fill color of your new shape will now match the logo color.
The eyedropper tool, when used with the shift key, and the stroke or fill icon as a primary selection, is a very effective tool for color sampling. These additional techniques will allow you to sample colors accurately and efficiently.
