Paint Bucket Tool

The Paint Bucket (K) fills enclosed areas with color. It fills empty areas as well as changes the color of areas already filled. The Paint bucket has a Gap Size modifier that can overlook gaps so that you can fill areas that aren't completely closed. With the Transform Fill modifier, you can adjust the size, direction and centre point of gradients. The Paint Bucket tool allows you to select multiple fills and change them simultaneously.

Shapes That Can Be Filled

In this example, although the shape is not a closed path like the type we've been drawing, the lines form an enclosed area that the Paint Bucket will recognize and fill.

This example demonstrates that the inner shapes (film sprockets) won't be filled if the Paint Bucket is applied outside their boundaries. If the Paint Bucket had been clicked inside one of the film sprockets, it alone would have been filled. In other words, the tool will stop filling when it runs up against an enclosed boundary.

Using the Paint Bucket Tool

To use the Paint Bucket tool to fill an area:

1. Select the Paint Bucket tool.
2. Choose a fill colour.
3. Set any modifiers you want to use.
4. Click on the object you want to fill.

Paint Bucket Tool Modifiers

There are three modifiers: Gap Size, Lock Fill, and Transform Fill.

Gap Size

The Gap Size modifier enables you to fill a shape that isn't completely enclosed because the end points don't meet perfectly. The example below shows the effect of the four options: Don't Close Gaps, Close Small Gaps, Close Medium Gaps, and Close Large Gaps. Don't Close Gaps won't fill a shape unless it is completely closed.

The Gap Size modifier is affected by the level of zoom magnification. The Paint Bucket interprets the gap size by how large it is displayed on the screen so you may need to zoom out for it to recognize gaps as small enough to fill.

Lock Fill

When the Lock Fill modifier is disabled (not pushed in), and a pattern or gradient is applied like in the first row in the picture at right, each shape will have the same gradient applied individually. When the Lock Fill button is depressed, Flash fills them as though they were one continuous shape.

Transform Fill

The Transform Fill modifier lets you adjust the position, scale and direction of a gradient fill.

To use the modifier, make sure the shape is deselected. Click on the Paint Bucket tool and then the Transform Fill modifier button. On Stage, your cursor will change to the Reshape Arrow. Click on the fill you want to transform. Control handles will overlay the fill.

Transforming a Radial Gradient Fill

This is an example of a radial gradient fill. Radial gradients will display four different control handles that can be used to manipulate the fill. (Sometimes the Transform Fill controls will expand so they're off in the Work Area. You'll need to zoom out to see them and resize them.)

To reposition the centre point of a radial gradient:

1. Hold the cursor over the centre point and notice that it turns into a four-headed arrow.
2. Click and drag the centre point to a new location.
3. To finish, click on an empty part of the Stage. This will remove the Transform Fill controls.

To change the radius of a radial gradient:

1. Hold the Reshape Arrow over the round Radius Handle. The cursor will change to an arrow within a circle.
2. Drag away from the centre point to expand the fill; drag towards the centre point to contract the fill.
3. To finish, click on an empty part of the Stage. This will remove the Transform Fill controls.

To skew a radial gradient:

1. Hold the Reshape Arrow over the Skew handle. The cursor will change to a horizontal two-headed arrow.
2. Drag to the left or right to narrow or widen the gradient.
3. Click on the Stage to finish.

To rotate a radial gradient:

1. Hold the Reshape Arrow over the Rotate Handle. The cursor will change to a circular arrow.
2. Drag the handle in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.
3. Click on the Stage to complete the transformation.

Transforming a Linear Gradient Fill

Transforming linear gradients operates in much the same way. There are only three handles for a linear gradient; the Radius Handle isn't present. The Skew Handle performs the resizing function on linear gradients.

Here is an example to demonstrate how the Transform Fill controls differ for linear gradients. In the top row, the fill is rotated and then resized in the bottom row.

1. Image 1 just shows the layout of the controls after the object was clicked on with the Reshape Arrow.
2. Click on the Rotate Handle in the upper right corner and drag in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. Hold the Shift key while rotating to constrain the rotation to 45-degree increments.
3. Release the mouse button. Notice the green lines representing the boundaries of the fill in the diagram. They are present in the first two steps but barely visible. The linear fill retained its original width dimension after rotation. If an object's width and height are different, it may distort the gradient as it did here where only the lightest parts of the gradient are visible.
4. Place the cursor over the Skew Handle and the cursor changes to a two-headed arrow. Drag it upward. Notice that the Snap icon (unfilled black circle) appears when the cursor reaches the bottom of the object.
5. Release the mouse button.
6. Click on the Stage to finish.

Paint Bucket Tool Summary

The Paint Bucket tool fills enclosed objects and with the use of the Gap Size modifier will also fill shapes that aren't completely closed. The Lock Fill modifier will treat a group of selected fills as one object so that the fill's pattern is only repeated once.

The Transform Fill modifier is used to change the position, scale and direction of a gradient fill. There are four controls when reshaping a radial gradient and three controls for a linear gradient.

Shortcuts:

• Paint Bucket tool: K