Copying colors and styles

You can use the eyedropper tool  to sample the color of any object or the background in your composition, or from another application entirely. You can then use the paint bucket tool to apply the current color to the top layer of an object.

You can also use these tools to copy and apply styles from within the Composition window. For information on copying attributes such as the style or current fill using the Paste commands, see Copying and pasting object attributes.

To sample a color or style using the eyedropper tool:

1. Choose where you want to apply the sampled color or style: an object layer, the foreground, or the background.
2. Select the eyedropper tool .
3. Sample a color or style:
• Click in the Composition window where you want to sample a color from an object or the background.
• Drag the eyedropper tool to continuously sample colors from inside or outside the Composition window. (To sample colors from outside the Composition window, begin dragging from inside the window.) Release the mouse button to select the color.
• Shift-click to sample the style of an object. A white bar appears across the eyedropper tool. For more information on styles, see Using the Styles palette.
• Shift-drag to continuously sample the style of objects. Release the mouse button to select the new style.

As you use the eyedropper tool, the color in the foreground or background color box, Color palette, and any selected object changes dynamically.

Note: Sampled colors in your composition are taken from the actual color of the objects and background, not the color displayed if you are viewing them in Active Preview.

To apply a sampled color or style:

1. Select the paint bucket tool .
2. Do one of the following:
• Click an object or the background to select it, and paint it with the current color in the Color palette. If you select an object, the top layer is painted.
• Shift-click an object to select it and apply the last style sampled with the eyedropper tool. A vertical gray bar appears at the lip of the paint bucket tool.