# How can I use the "paint" tool?

**URL:** <https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-can-i-use-the-paint-tool/345009>\
**Category:** SketchUp\
**Tags:** color\
**Created:** [February 27, 2026, 5:27am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-can-i-use-the-paint-tool/345009 "2026-02-27T05:27:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![staroidster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@staroidster](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/staroidster)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 5:27am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-can-i-use-the-paint-tool/345009/1 "2026-02-27T05:27:37Z")

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I just got the newest version,and am having trouble opening and using the “paint” .tool.

It doesn’t stay open, and I can only seem to get some “solid colors”

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**Author:** ![ateliernab](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/ateliernab/32/198399_2.png) [@ateliernab](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/ateliernab)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 7:38am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-can-i-use-the-paint-tool/345009/2 "2026-02-27T07:38:51Z")

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Hi there,

so, first, your profile is a little bit outdated. then again, your account is more than a decade old 🙂  
you can [update it here](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/guide-how-to-fill-in-your-profile-when-someone-asks-you-to/241983), it helps us help you.

* * *

that being said, could you explain a tad more your problem ?  
you click on the bucket icon (or B on your keyboard), the material panel appears on your right I assume. There you should have a small black house showing you the materials currently used in your model, and a menu next to it with all the extra standard materials. It should be pretty much the same overall as 2015.

could you provide a screen recording, or screenshots of what you’re getting maybe ?

this might help, the 2 videos about the paint bucket and material panel  
 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/optimized/3X/9/c/9c765c10f7a92bbb17b9308dee44d36052847d36_2_690x388.jpeg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/2YT5usoT-t8?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PL-bndkJaV8A7R2t970OmHY6kPGJwTfGP2  
 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/optimized/3X/8/8/88d40376da3284bc1ac3b066912c376d974125e8_2_690x388.jpeg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/bOj1A6lCQWo?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PL-bndkJaV8A7R2t970OmHY6kPGJwTfGP2

maybe you could point at the moment when it doesn’t work like it’s supposed to ?

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/f/2/f2a121500b085ed60806607a82720b092d800bb3.png) [@system](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2026, 5:28am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/how-can-i-use-the-paint-tool/345009/3 "2026-08-26T05:28:08Z")

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Closed on August 26, 2026, 5:28am UTC

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