Use the Selection tool to select one or more paths, compound paths, or both.
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Create Live Paint groups
Last updated on
May 29, 2026
Learn how to create Live Paint groups to paint edges and faces of objects.
You can paint the edges or faces of objects differently by converting them into a Live Paint group.
Certain objects, such as text and raster images, can't be directly converted into a Live Paint group. Direct conversion of objects with complex appearance attributes, such as brushes, effects, transparency, and stroke alignment options, may result in the loss of some details. To convert text or raster images and to retain most of the complex attributes, convert the objects into regular paths first, and then into a Live Paint group.
Once you turn objects into a Live Paint group, you can’t directly ungroup them back to their original state. You can expand the Live Paint group into individual components or release the group back to the original objects with no fill and a 0.5 pt black stroke.
Create a Live Paint group
Select Object > Live Paint > Make to create a Live Paint group.
You can also use the Live Paint Bucket tool to create Live Paint groups.
Convert objects to regular paths and create a Live Paint group
For objects that you can't convert directly into a Live Paint group and for those objects with complex appearance attributes, convert them into regular paths first, and then create a Live Paint group.
Select text, raster images, or the objects with complex appearance attributes, and then do the following to convert them into regular paths:
- Text: Select Type > Create Outlines.
- Raster images: Select them and then select Object > Image Trace > Make.
- Objects with complex appearance attributes: Select Object > Expand.
Select Object > Live Paint > Make to create a Live Paint group.
Expand or release a Live Paint group
Expanding a Live Group converts it into regular and separate filled and stroked paths that preserve the appearance of the painted faces and edges. Releasing a Live Paint group returns the original objects, but with no fill and a 0.5-point black stroke.
Use the Selection tool to select the Live Paint group.
Expand or release the group based on your requirement:
- To expand, select Object > Live Paint > Expand.
- To release, select Object > Live Paint > Release.
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