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Generate vector shape fills using text prompts

Learn how to use Generative Shape Fill to add detailed vector graphics to shapes.

  Generative Shape Fill is a beta feature in Illustrator on desktop now available for testing and feedback.

Generative Shape Fill, powered by Adobe Firefly, lets you fill shapes with detail and color in your own style.

Simply select a shape, provide a brief description of the fill you have in mind, and set the required creative controls. Illustrator swiftly generates multiple variations as output for you to explore. Once you try them out, choose the one that best suits your artwork. Each variation is arranged in logical groups, allowing you to do further edits easily.

Try it in Adobe Illustrator
Follow along with a sample file to learn how to quickly generate a vector shape fill.

Fill a shape with vector graphics

Generate unique fills guided by the outlines of shapes and optional text prompts.

  1. Use the Selection   tool to select the shape you want to fill with vector graphics.

    You can use shapes such as open and closed paths, basic shapes, grouped objects, and compound paths. You can also select multiple shapes.

  2. In the Contextual Task Bar that appears, select Gen Shape Fill.

    You can also access Gen Shape Fill from the Object menu, the context menu when you right-click the shape, and the Quick Actions section of the Properties panel.

  3. In the prompt field, type in a description of the fill you're looking for. As you type, prompt suggestions guide you along, helping you add more detail.

    The prompt is optional, but without it, the fill will be based entirely on the outline of the shape.

    If you don't want prompt suggestions, select View all settings, and then toggle off Suggestions.

  4. Use the options in Shape strength and detail   as needed:

    • Shape Strength: Move the slider to adjust how closely the fill must match the shape's outline. When set to High, the fill will fully match the outline. When set to Low, the fill will have contours closer to that of real-life objects without always fully matching the outline.
    • Detail: Move the slider to adjust the level of detail required in the fill.
    Outline of a fish with a promt, a fill with Shape Strength set to Tight, and a fill with Shape Strength set to Loose.
    Adjust Shape Strength for your unique requirement.

  5. Use the options in Style Reference   as needed:

    • Style reference: Leave Auto enabled if you want the style of the fill to match the style of the objects (vector or image) surrounding the selected shape. To pick a style from a specific object in your artwork, select Choose asset or Replace asset. Then, either select the object or draw a lasso around it.
    • Effects: Apply one or more preset effects. Select Clear all to remove the effects.

    Select Clear all next to Styles to remove the style reference and the effects.

  6. Select View all settings   , and in the Gen Shape Fill dialog box that opens, select Color and Tone to refine the colors for your fill, as needed:

    • Color Presets: Apply a color preset.
    • No. of colors: Leave it as Auto or set the number of colors you want in the fill.
    • Specify Colors: Specify up to 12 colors. To edit or remove a specified color, select it and then make the changes in the menu that appears. Select Clear all next to Specify Colors to remove the specified colors.

    Select Clear all at the top of Color and Tone to remove all color settings, and Clear all in the Gen Shape Fill dialog to remove all settings.

  7. Select Generate in the Gen Shape Fill dialog box. Variations of the fill appear in the Properties panel. The first variation automatically appears on the canvas as a generated object, indicated by   on its bounding box, filling the shape. The shape remains on the canvas independent of the fill. A Generative Object layer is also created in the Layers panel.

  8. In the Contextual Task Bar, use the arrows to preview the variations and select the one that best suits your artwork.

Manage the generated variations

When you select a generated object on the canvas, its linked variations (the set of variations from which you selected one) appear in the Variations section of the Properties panel, allowing you to manage them contextually.

You can centrally manage all the variations generated in your document using Generative Shape Fill and Text to Vector Graphic in the Generated Variations panel (WindowGenerated Variations). Even if you delete a generated object from the canvas or its linked variations from the Properties panel, they aren't deleted from the Generated Variations panel. On the other hand, if you delete a variation from the Generated Variations panel, it's no longer available as a linked variation for the object on the canvas. You can always undo the deletions by pressing Ctrl + Z or Cmd + Z.

Generate Similar isn't available for variations generated using Generative Shape Fill.

Repeat shape fill generation

You can run Generative Shape Fill on an object created using Generative Shape Fill. Unless you ungroup the object, the new output will follow the original shape's outline.

Suppose you generate fill-1 on a shape with Shape Strength set to Loose. Then, you generate fill-2 on fill-1 with Shape Strength set to Tight. Fill-2 will match the outline of the original shape, not that of fill-1. If you want the output to match the outline of fill-1, you need to ungroup fill-1, and then generate.

Manage linked variations

If you ungroup a generated object, it loses all its linked variations.

When you run Generative Shape Fill on an object created using Generative Shape Fill, the new object inherits all the linked variations.

When you create a copy of a generated object, the copy inherits all the linked variations. Deleting one instance of a linked variation won't affect the other instance.

Provide feedback on your output

Hover over a variation, select More options   , and then select one of the following:

  • Good result or Poor result: Rate its quality
  • Report variation: Report it if it's harmful, illegal, or offensive

Frequently asked questions

Who can access Generative Shape Fill in Illustrator?

Generative Shape Fill is available in the Illustrator app wherever Adobe provides services, except in mainland China. It's designed to be safe for commercial use.

Is Generative Shape Fill in Illustrator a part of users’ existing subscription or do they have to pay an additional fee for this capability?

Illustrator users can access Generative Shape Fill in the app and get access to generative credits for priority processing of generative AI content as a part of their license.

Why did you bring Generative Shape Fill into Illustrator?

Illustrator is one of the Creative Cloud apps that natively integrates Adobe Firefly, Adobe’s powerful generative AI technology. Users can now leverage the power of Adobe Firefly directly in the Illustrator app to enrich their creative processes and outputs.

How is Generative Shape Fill different from other tools in Illustrator?

Generative Shape Fill is a generative AI capability powered by Adobe Firefly. Unlike other Illustrator capabilities, this capability enables you to create detailed, editable vector illustrations from an existing shape using a text prompt.

Will Generative Shape Fill replace existing tools in Illustrator?

Generative Shape Fill is a generative AI-powered capability intended to complement existing tools in Illustrator.

What are the system requirements to use Generative Shape Fill?

Generative Shape Fill works in the Illustrator app, so it shares the same system requirements.

Do you need to be connected to the Internet to use Generative Shape Fill?

Yes, in order to use Generative Shape Fill, you must be connected to the Internet.

What regions and languages is Generative Shape Fill in Illustrator available in?

Generative Shape Fill is available in the Illustrator app wherever Adobe provides services, except in mainland China, and supports over 100 languages.

What are generative credits and are they applied when using Generative Shape Fill?

Generative credits are applied when using Generative Shape Fill. Learn more about what they are and how many are applied.

What are Content Credentials and do they apply to Generative Shape Fill in Illustrator?

Content Credentials are a new kind of tamper-evident metadata that get added to the assets generated using Generative Shape Fill and exported as .jpg, .png, or .svg files. They increase transparency around the origins and history of the assets they are applied to. Learn more about Content Credentials.

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