We saw how we can use the Control panel to color a selected object. However, when you want to recolor shapes or paths, there are various recoloring options you can use. These include using the tools Eyedropper, Live Paint, and the Color Guide panel with some new features. Let’s look at some of the features of each of these.

Eyedropper Tool (I)

When a shape or path is selected, you can transfer the basic appearance setting from one shape to another.

Select with your Selection tool the shape you want to add your new stroke and fill to.

Refer to Figure 8-49.

Figure 8-49.  Select a path that you want to alter the appearance such as the fill and stroke

Then select the Eyedropper tool and click the shape you want to extract the appearance setting from, and they will be applied to the selected shape. Refer to Figure 8-50.

Figure 8-50.  Use the Eyedropper tool and click another path or shape and add that appearance to the selected object

If you double-click the Eyedropper tool in the Toolbars panel, you can see what appearance settings it picks up and what it applies. Refer to Figure 8-51.

Figure 8-51.  Eyedropper Options dialog box with Raster Sample Size settings of point sample

This includes transparency overall, focal fill (color, transparency, and overprint), focal stroke (color, transparency, overprint, weight, cap, join, miter limit, and dash pattern), character style, and paragraph style. Note that color also includes gradients and patterns. However, more advanced features like effects and multiple styles can only be transferred when you create a graphic style which I will talk about later in the chapter. Use this dialog box to set your sample range; the default is point sample.