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Copying attributes between objects


    You can use the eyedropper tool to copy appearance and color attributes--including transparency, live effects, and other attributes--from any object in an Illustrator file, from a paint swatch, or from anywhere on the desktop, including from another application. You can then use the paint bucket tool to apply the current attributes to an object. Together these tools let you copy attributes from one object to another.

    By default, the eyedropper and paint bucket tools affect all attributes of an object. You can use the tool's options dialog box to change the object's attributes. You can also use the eyedropper tool and paint bucket tool to copy and paste type attributes. (See Copying type attributes between objects.)

To copy attributes using the eyedropper tool:

  1. Select the object with the attributes you want to change.
  2. Select the eyedropper tool  the eyedropper tool .
  3. Click the object that has the attributes you want to sample with the eyedropper tool. The selected object is automatically updated with the attributes of the sampled object.
  4. TipClick the eyedropper tool to sample all appearance attributes. Shift-click to sample only the color. To duplicate the appearance of an object, hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and Shift-click.

To copy attributes from the desktop to Illustrator using the eyedropper tool:

  1. Select the object whose attributes you want to change.
  2. Select the eyedropper tool.
  3. Click anywhere on the document and continue to hold down the mouse button.
  4. Without releasing the mouse button, move the pointer over the object on your computer's desktop whose attributes you want to copy. When directly over the object, release the mouse button.
  5. Important: When you copy an object's characteristics from the desktop, the eyedropper tool only copies the RGB color from the screen, even if the object in another application is colored in the CMYK color mode.

To apply attributes using the paint bucket tool:

  1. Select the paint bucket tool  the paint bucket tool .
  2. Click any object to apply the saved attributes.
  3. If you are working in Outline view or if the object is stroked and not filled, be sure to click the object's outline.

    TipTo toggle between the eyedropper tool and the paint bucket tool, press Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) while either tool is selected.

To change the attributes affected by the paint bucket or eyedropper tool:

  1. Double-click the paint bucket or eyedropper tool.
  2. Select the attributes you want to copy with the eyedropper tool, then apply with the paint bucket tool and click OK.