Split and fill a shape

[macnavi]

I hope I'm not the only one, but I'm always fighting with filling a shape, when I divide it up in more fields. The technique I though works the best is select Select Shape (Q), click on the field (fx a shape made with Add Point and then split in two parts by drawing a line with Add Point straight through the shape). Then I use the Paint Bucket (P) to click in one of the parts and a stroke will appear and the part changes colour. Even though it is a shape that stands free, it doesn't work too many times. Why is that? What is the secret that I'm missing?

[jahnocli]

Don't use Paint Bucket. Try this quick exercise -- you only need four tools in the standard Tools palette: Rectangle, Add Points, Select Points, and Create Shape.

Turn off Auto-Fill.

1. Select Rectangle and drag one out on the screen.
2. Click on Select Points in an empty part of the canvas to deselect all points.
3. Roughly in the centre of the top and bottom lines, add a point.
4. Join these points with a line.

Should now be two squares next to each other, six points, common line in the cenntre.

5. Select all four points of leftmost square. Hit Create Shape (kidney bean shape). You should see a red chequerboard (or checkerboard!)
6. In the Style palette, select a Fill Colour (click on colour to get a palette). Let's say it's red.
7. Hit the space bar. Left square is now filled red.
8. Select rightmost four points and repeat with a different colour.

And that's how I do it anyway...!

[jonbo]

Also make sure you have auto-weld on. You should hear a "click" when a line welds to another line.

[macnavi]

@Jahnocli: Thanks, that works! Interesting technique, as this way I suddenly can turn a not-connected-shape, made with Add Point, into a stroke. Cool stuff and solves something that gave me a head ache for years.