Mesh tool - Fish

Hi!
I going through a tutorial where I am going to make a... fish!
Step 3 on: http://www.tutorialized.com/view/tutorial/How-to-Create-a-Vector-Goldfish-in-Six-Steps/551 93
I have just made a Clipping Mask of a rectangel and the fishbody, I don't know why actually because the only thing that happend when I made a Clipping Mask of the fish and the orange rectangle, was that the fishbody got orange.
After that I got a description how to add a light on the body, and they are telling me (in the text under) that I am going to use mesh tool and click in fishbody.
"Create the specks of light on the body of the fish. Add a point to the mesh by using the Mesh Tool (U) and clicking anywhere in the shape’s area (picture 3c). After converting a shape into a mesh, you can select points with three tools: Mesh Tool, Direct Selection Tool, and the Lasso Tool.
All you have to do now is to add color to the mesh by selecting a color from the swatches palette. I took colors from the Swatch library > Metal. Get creative with color in this stage to get an excellent result."
The problem is When I got the Mesh Tool(U) activated (If I point at the fishbody, there's a border around the fish) and click on the orange fishbody... Nothing is happening, I not sure what is supposed happend but nothing is happening.
What can I do?
Thanks!

Thanks that was the problem

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Please help me! I am struggling with the mesh tool!

So I want to make this chair look like it does in the picture, but I cant! There is a chapter in my Illustrator CS3 book explaining how to use gradient mesh and mesh tool, but it doesnt help me at all. I am clueless! The tutorial says that I can create points in the mesh simply by clicking with the mesh tool within an object, but when I try to do that, the pointer is "crossed out". I can only add extra points on lines or edges, but not on empty space within an object. What gives? Why is it that others can do it an I cant? Forgive me if I sound a little too upset, but I've been struggling with this for days and I cannot find an answer.
In this tutorial right here: http://www.layersmagazine.com/illustrator-gradient-mesh-tool.html the guy just clicks in empty spaces creating intersections. In my case it is impossible.
PS: Please look at an attached file and tell me what would be the best way to go about coloring this chair. Maybe I am doing this completely wrong? (I only started learning illustrator about 5 weeks ago)
Sorry for the background template being of poor quality, but this was taken from a book and scanned, so it's the best I could do.

You know something I think there should be a behavioral change in this case. To my way of thinking this option should automatically be disabled if you select the Mesh tool. If for some reason you want the mesh tool not to behave the way there might be a toggle or a double click to get the preferences for the tool 's behavior itself. I can see where this behavior can be useful but there needs to be a toggle.
Selecting the anchors for adding color with out accidentally creating a new mesh division is good thing but you need to be able to work both ways.
What do you think Scott Weichert you use the tool extensively, am i wrong?

Mesh tool appears inactive?!

Hi,
I did not find any other similar questions.
I am trying to use the Mesh Tool, but it appears to be inactive. The cursor looks like a cross with a small crossed circle nets to it (like a "do not pass" road sign). I do not know what I did wrong. In Preferences I have "Object selection by path only" deselected, so it can't be it.

Thank you for your reply.
I am following a tutorial:
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2012/10/03/gradients-galore-reviewing-illustrators-extensi ve-toolset-video-tutorial/#more-140468
I don't think the image is a Compound Image. I used the Ellipse Tool and the Pen Tool to build it. I am working in Outline Mode (just like the person in the tutorial).
Now I think it might be the problem. I probably have to switch between Outline and Preview constantly to make it work. I am working on the 7:45-12:00 part of the tutorial. (if you have the time to check this out)
Message was edited by: august_kat
I tried to add the image, but something went wrong. Isn`t Illustrator native format allowed

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I am trying to learn to use illustrator - I've been watching the online videos - which are very helpful, but there aren't any that I can find for the mesh tool. I want to add some shading to the body of this acrobat but every time I try to use the mesh tool I get the not available symbol. I can't figure out why or how to change it. I started from a scanned drawing, did a live trace, and converted to live paint to fill in colors. What should I do now to enable the mesh tool? Please help!

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdH2hAUUPbg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDkBAN9XRoo
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I would like to know if I can go faster to do a photorealistic with a mesh tools, cause point by point....
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... and even if you decide not to use the plugin, make sure to read its introduction. It will teach you a lot about gradient meshes:
http://vectorboom.com/load/web_roundups/mesh_tormentor_plugin_complete_guide/13-1-0-18

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I see the problem as well you may have to make an clipping mask of a rectangle or other shape that is more regular using this shape as the mask and grouping them.
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1wekWFXbGiN7ixwI4ulbOLsAZQRp0k" /></a>
<img alt="Picture hosted by Pixentral" src="http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1wekWFXbGiN7ixwI4ulbOLsAZQRp0k_thumb.png" border="0" />

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design element,
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~design_element

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Hi folks!
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bookie56

I have tried creating the basic path around the whole person.
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JET

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um heading says it all..
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make me happy!

lyonbird,
As a more straightforward solution, you might consider using a Blend with specified steps between two paths (with corresponding Anchor Points), and expand it to get individual paths.

Mesh tool - Fish

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