INTRODUCTION

Today we're going to talk about the [Fill Tool]. That's the Paint Bucket icon. Today you will learn EVERY use for the [Fill Tool]. This is a comprehensive look at the many ways to use the [Fill Tool].

 

If I missed a use for the [Fill Tool] please let me know.

 

Check out the video demo to see everything in action.

 

A panel opens called the [Sub Tool Fill]. Go to the Windows menu and down to the [Sub Tool Fill] if it doesn't open. The [Fill Tool] drops color. That's it. The color keeps spreading until it reaches an edge.

Now the [Fill Tool] wasn't made to roll alone, or this would be the end of the tutorial. It has to hook up with something else. Right now, it's just a layer, and the layer is always going to be involved like that third wheel. However, when you hook it up with a [Selection Tool] or a Mask, oh mama, now it starts to get sexy.

 

Now in the [Sub Tool Fill] panel, we see four options - [Refer Only to Editing Layer], [Refer Other Layers], [Close and Fill], and [Paint Unfilled Area]. When [Refer Only to Editing Layer] is selected and you look down to the [Tool Property Panel], we see in the header that it has [Refer Only to Editing Layer]. Now when you select something else in the [Sub Tool Fill] like [Refer Other Layers], it changes in the [Tool Property Panel] also.

 

Also, notice that the settings available on the [Tool Property] change a little depending on the selected [Sub Tool]. The [Sub Tool] and [Tool Property] go together like hot dogs and buns, peanut butter and jelly, tofu, and - well, tofu doesn't go with anything.

 

The first three [Sub Tool]s have [Close Gap] in the [Tool Property Panel]. Leave [Opacity] set at the default setting, 100%.

 

The [Auto Select Tool] (Magic Wand icon) and [Tool Property Panel]work together similarly.

 

CLOSE GAP

• [Close Gap] works by having the [Fill Tool] ignore gaps in the line art and fill the area anyway. The five squares represent the size or sensitivity of the hole that the [Fill Tool] would look for in the art. [Close Gap] works best with clean lines

• You specify a gap size by clicking the arrow and typing in a number.

• It's impossible to give you an average to use because the gap size varies because of canvas size, resolution, and the size of the gap. Each piece of art will be different, and you have to make adjustments as needed. Fewer squares selected fill fewer gaps, and the more chosen squares fill more gaps.

A higher gap size chosen may keep [Fill Tool] from filling in narrow spaces in the line art.

• You can prevent this by clicking [Fill Narrow Areas]

• If not visible, then click the gear icon in the lower right of the panel or go to Window Menu/ Sub Tool Detail

• Click the Eye icon to show hidden properties such as [Fill Narrow Areas]

• Increase [Tolerance] as needed to get the desired results.

All [Sub Tool]s here have [Tolerance] in the [Tool Property Panel]

TOLERANCE

[Tolerance] is also known as color margin, the difference of color values seen when filling an area. The value of the [Tolerance] is set from the value of the pixel clicked. Lower the tolerance to differentiate between the base and edge colors. High tolerance can prevent white or empty pixels on the edges of your fill.

 

As you see on the color wheel if I select different colors from the same spot they each have the same value. Even though the colors may be red, green and blue the value of each is the same.

 

All [Sub Tool]s here have [Area Scaling] in the [Tool Property Panel]. However, it's not on by default.

AREA SCALING

When using the [Fill Tool], the color area will extend into the line art to avoid white or empty pixels in the line art border.

 

The best practice for the scaling mode is to leave it set [To Darkest Pixel] icon

If not visible, reveal on [Area Scaling] by clicking the plus icon

 

High values of [Area Scaling] and [Tolerance] simultaneously can give unwanted results.

 

One way (not the only way) to keep [Tolerance] and [Area Scaling] from fighting each other is to turn [Anti-aliasing] off and [Area Scaling] on so it bleeds underneath the line. Then you can fill in each section with color.

 

[Area Scaling] can be Minus or Plus.

MAKE FLAT OF FIGURE

• Select [Fill Tool].

• Choose Use [Close and Fill] to quickly create silhouettes for your figures or objects.

• In the [Tool Property Panel], make sure [Target Color] is [Area Surrounded by Black], which will be the line art. Or [Only White and Transparent] for more complex fills.

• [Area Scaling] is set to "1," so the color will bleed under the line art.

• [Refer Multiple Layers] is checked

• [Fill Up to Vector Path] is checked ( I strongly suggest you always use vector art, but that's another conversation)

• Draw around the area you want to fill, and the tool identifies the closed areas and fills them. You can also draw outside the canvas.

• Adjust Close Gap and Tolerance as needed

MAKE A BORDER AROUND ART

• Select the [Auto Select Tool] and choose [Refer to All Layers] in [Tool Property] Panel.

• Choose a minus amount of [Area Scaling] to make a border around the art.

• Select the background with the [Auto Select Tool] with [Refer to All Layers] selected. Adjust [Close Gap] and [Tolerance] as needed.

• The Marquee moves a certain number of pixels away from the object

• Invert Selection.

• On the Layer beneath, use rectangular [Fill Tool] to create a black or white outline around the object.

CLOSE AND FILL

Instead of clicking all the small areas, you can drag the tool outside the multiple regions to fill closed spots with the same color.

 

This tool is excellent for coloring areas that are very small and difficult to fill.

 

Also great to color different sections and create detailed flats.

 

TO SET UP: choose [Target Color]: [Target all colors] or [Only white and transparent].

COLOR MARGIN: controls range of color that is considered the same color. The higher the number, the larger amount of colors filled. A lower number and fewer colors are chosen.

REFER ONLY TO THE EDITING LAYER

Selecting [Refer Only to Editing Layer] on the [Sub Tool] panel allows you to fill by referring to the edited layer.

When using reference layers, check [Apply to Connected Pixels Only]. Otherwise, it may fill tall other colors also.

REFER OTHER LAYERS

Selecting [Refer Other Layers] on the [Sub Tool] panel allows you to fill by referring to ALL layers.

• You can use a reference layer with the selection tool.

• Make Selection inside line art.

• Drag-and-drop Material from the library or click the paste button at the bottom of the panel.

USE COLOR FROM REFERENCE IMAGES

• Select Window and then Sub View.

• Click the folder to add images.

• Now, you can use the color picker to use colors from any reference images you have here while you are coloring or painting

FILL LAYER

A [Fill Layer] is a single flat color with a mask.

 

If you use a [Fill Layer], change the color and adjust the fill area using [Layer Mask]s later.

 

1. Using a selection tool to create a selection.

2. Select Layer menu/New layer/Fill.

3. In the [Color Settings] dialog box, choose the fill color, then select [OK].

4. You will create a [Fill Layer] in the selected color with a [Layer Mask].

 

[Fill Layer]s are displayed in color set in the [Color Settings] dialog box.

 

The [Fill Layer] will appear within it if you create a selection area. You can later change the extent to which the fill color appears.

 

 

CHANGING THE COLOR OF A [Fill Layer]

Select the [Operation] tool > [Object] [Sub Tool] panel and select the gradient layer in the [Layer] panel to edit the gradient.

 

On the [Layer] panel, select a [Fill Layer] to edit.

 

When you hover over a color panel while selecting the [Fill Layer], the cursor will switch to an eyedropper. Select a color on the color panel to change the [Fill Layer] color.

 

Change the color of the [Fill Layer] using this alternative method.

 

1. On the [Layer] panel, choose the [Fill Layer].

 

2. Select the [Operation] tool > [Object] [Sub Tool].

 

3. In the [Tool Property] panel, change the [Fill color] to change the layer's color.

 

Change the fill color when you double-click the color icon and choose a new color.

OR

Choose the Object Tool and select a new color

 

EDITING THE AREA OF A [Fill Layer]

On the [Layer] panel, choose the [Layer Mask] of the [Fill Layer]. You can adjust where the fill appears by erasing or drawing on the [Layer Mask].

SET AS DRAFT LAYER

The [Draft Layer] is ignored by the [Fill Tool]. Suitable to use on your sketch layer to keep visible while you color. It is excluded from reference layers and is a non-printing layer. You can also put notes on this layer.

 

Go to the [Layer] menu > [Layer Settings] > [[Set as Draft Layer]] to set it as a [Draft Layer] .

[Draft Layer]s can be excluded when setting references or exporting files.

·Use [File] menu > [Save Duplicate] or [Export (Single Layer)] to include [Draft Layer]s when exporting files with.

 

·Create a selection or using fill tools you can choose whether to refer to [Draft Layer]s.

 

·Go to the [Layer] menu > [Layer Settings] > [[Set as Draft Layer]] again to stop using the layer as a reference layer.

 

·Multiple layers can be [Draft Layer]s.

 

·[Set as Draft Layer]s can be used on layer folders.

CLIP TO LAYER BELOW

• Right-click to choose the Clipping layer.

• Click on the [Click layer below] icon.

• Not only can you clip the layer below, but you can also clip a Layer folder.

 

Go to [Layer] menu > [Layer settings] > [[Clip to Layer Below]] to limit the revealed area of the selected layer to match the layer immediately below. This layer will not show any content on the clipped layer outside the lower layer (above transparent pixels). Clipping allows you to add extra details without going outside of the area of the lower layer.

 

Layers clipped to lower layers will have a color bar next to the layer thumbnail.

CONVERT TO SELECTION LAYER

Draw a selection area with a selection tool, then go to the [Select] menu > [Convert to Selection Layer]. The selection area will appear on a newly created Selection Layer.

 

The selection area appears in green above the canvas. Creates a Selection Layer is made in the [Layer] panel.

 

·A [Selection] layer can be shown or hidden using the [Show/Hide layer] icon on the [Layer] panel.

 

Draw on the created Selection Layer to edit the selected area.

 

CONVERT SELECTION LAYER TO SELECTION

Select the [Select] menu > [Convert Selection Layer to Selection] option to convert the Selection Layer back to a selection.

 

Creates a selection from a Selection Layer.

CORRECTION LAYER

Right-click Layer/New Correction Layer/Tone Curve

 

You can use adjustment layers to make a filled layer highlights or shadows. For highlights, move Tone Curve upwards. And for Shadows move, the Tone Curve downwards.

LAYER MASK

Creates a hidden region for the selected layer or layer folder. Masks can be adjusted and deleted.

 

A [Layer Mask] hides part of the image on a layer. You can hide unnecessary details or limit the area for [Fill Layer]s and gradient layers.

 

Black conceals and white reveals.

 

MASK SELECTION

1. Use a selection tool to create a selection.

The [Layer Mask] will have blank regions if there is no selection area.

2. On the [Layer] panel, select the layer to mask.

3. Go to the [Layer] menu > [[Layer Mask]] > [Mask Selection].

The [Layer Mask] is applied to the selected area, and the [Layer Mask] will appear in the [Layer] panel Areas under the mask will be hidden.

 

MASK OUTSIDE SELECTION

1. Create a selection with the [Selection Tool].

The mask will affect the entire layer if a selection is not created.

2. On the [Layer] panel, select the layer to mask.

3. Go to the [Layer] menu > [[Layer Mask]] > [Mask Outside Selection].

The [Layer Mask] will affect the area outside the Selection, and the [Layer Mask] will appear in the [Layer] panel. Areas under the mask will be hidden.

 

EDITING A LAYER MASK

·You can draw on [Layer Mask]s with a brush or pen to remove parts of the mask and show the images on the layers below.

·Select a [Layer Mask], to use eraser tools to draw more of the [Layer Mask] to hide the lower layers.

The brush or pen tools with transparency can draw a mask.

·The opacity of the mask will match the opacity of the tool.

DELETE MASK

Go to the [Layer] menu > [[Layer Mask]] > [Delete Mask] to delete the [Layer Mask].

APPLY MASK TO LAYER

Go to the [Layer] menu > [[Layer Mask]] > [Apply Mask to Layer] to combine the layer and the [Layer Mask] together. This deletes the [Layer Mask].

QUICK MASK

Quick Masks create selection areas with brush and pen tools. Easily make selections with complex shapes on the visible image.

1. Select the [Select] menu > [Quick Mask] to turn on the menu item.

Creates a [Quick Mask] in the [Layer] panel.

2. With a drawing tool (brush), draw on the quick mask (tattoo).

The Selection is displayed in red. The Quick Mask is a temporary layer, yet it keeps the texture from the brush.

3. In the [Select] menu, select [Quick Mask] again to remove the checkmark and create a selection area from the quick mask.

The layer disappears and creates a [Quick Mask] from the Selection. Deletes the [Quick mask]. The drawing is now a selection that can be filled with a solid color or gradient.

·The combination of a [Layer Mask] and the layer, the merged layer will be a raster layer, regardless of the original layer type.

copyright 2022 Howard Simpson