Illustrator CS6 help!

Question

I have a lace swatch that I need to add a background color in Illustrator CS6.  How do I do that and keep the background color within the confines of a complicated lacy edge?  This probably has a simple answer but I can't figure it out.

Answer 1

rionorte,
Depending on the exact nature of the lace structure, you may try the following (some additional steps may be needed):
1) Group the whole lace structure if not already;
2) Object>Path>Offset Path by a positive amount sufficient to close all gaps within the lace structure, then hide the original Group;
3) Pathfinder>Unite or Merge, and apply the desired colour(ing);
4) Object>Path>Offset Path by the same amount as in 2), only negative;
5) Show the original Group hidden in 2).
This should give you a coloured background filling the lace structure in the form of a path. You may wish to adjust the shape of the path where it covers the gaps/openings between the outermost parts of the lace structure.
It corresponds to the somewaht similar suggestion in this thread about a contiguous background behind letters:
Re: Stoke behind text problem?