The Mesh tool

When we work with the “Mesh” tool, we can use more colors in a gradient.

I already hear you thinking that you can use the “Gradient” tool.

True, but with the “Mesh” tool, we have the possibility to add different colors in a different directions.

An example will make this all clear.

Below, I attempted to draw a pear that has a green color.

The first thing we do is to place the pear in a mesh. There are two ways.

One way is the “Mesh” tool option in the tool bar (1) and clicking in the pear. This places a “mesh” in the pear (2).

A mesh is composed of several exchange lines (3), and a line consists of several anchoring points (4).

You can add grid lines by clicking anywhere in your shape.

Each time you click, a horizontal and a vertical line are added.

If you just want to add a horizontal line, then click on a vertical line.

If you just want to add a vertical line, then click on a horizontal line.

Where a horizontal line crosses a vertical line, it becomes an anchor point.

 

If you have added an extra line, you can remove it by clicking on the line, while holding the Alt key on your keyboard pressed.

If you want to delete a vertical and horizontal line, click the intersection of these two lines while holding the Alt key on your keyboard pressed.

The color of the mesh lines and their anchor points is determined by the color of the layer (1). You have seen how to change this in a previous lesson.

The beauty of a “Mesh” is that we can give a different color to each anchor point.

Select above the first anchor point (1) with the “Direct Selection” tool and choose a different color in the “Swatches” panel (2).

If you want multiple points in your drawing with a different color, first select all the anchor points by pressing the Shift key on your keyboard, hold down when you click and choose a color in the “Swatches” panel.

You can change the shape of a box in the grid at any time by clicking and dragging with the “Direct Selection” tool.

Same for an anchor point. If you want to change its position, click and drag the anchor point with the “Direct Selection” tool.

By clicking and dragging the handles of an anchor point, you can also change the color.

There are really many possibilities with this tool. You must have some time.

I will soon tell you the second way to add a “Mesh” to your image.

First select your item, then click the “Object” button in the menu bar and click “Create Gradient Mesh” from the drop-down menu.
In the dialog that appears, you can enter the number of rows and columns you want.
With the “Appearance” box, you can add a radial gradient if you wish.
You can decide how big this radial gradient should be, in the “Highlight”.
A radial gradient like this might be useful, but it seems utterly useless to me.

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