Can I use Gradient Mesh tool as a template to create a 3D looking graphic?

I am attempting to make a similar graphic with this 3D appearance , using AI CS5.1
The nature of how the gradient mesh tool appears would achieve the desired effect.
I am trying to find a way, to capture and/ or add a stroke to the gradient mesh framework (seen in red) and/or save the mesh as an object.
Suggestions most appreciated
Thank you.
~design_element

design element,
This forum is the right place to be told that there is no such way, and then some suggestions:
http://forums.adobe.com/community/illustrator/illustrator_general?view=discussions

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I'm using gradient mesh tool

Hi. I'm learning how use gradient mesh. the problem I'm having is there is one anchor point on one of my paths that keeps going back to white. I select it with the white arrow and use the eyedropper tool to replace the color, switch to a new anchor, then go back to the original anchor point and it becomes white again. I have even tried deleting the anchor point and replacing it and it encounters the same problem. Any ideas how I can fix this?

We can't know. You have not provided any screenshot, no info about what version of AI, no system info.
Mylenium

How I can improve my gradient mesh tools?

Hello there,
I would like to know if I can go faster to do a photorealistic with a mesh tools, cause point by point....
It's a bit hard, or do you have a tutorials on i Can go faster to do my pictures fast as I can do it.
Thanks.

... 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

Using gradients with the gradient mesh tool

So I have a basic knowledge of using the gradient mesh tool, but in my current project I need the gradients within the object to fade from black to transparent (it will be used for a one-color tshirt). I've tried to do this a couple different ways. First, I created a solid white rectangle (no stroke) then created a 1 row 1 column flat gradient mesh on it. Added the points I needed, even added the color, and the fade is exactly the shape I need, but I can't figure out how to get rid of the white, and just have the black fade to transparent. I also tried creating a rectangle with a linear gradient fill, clicked expand and selected gradient mesh, but as soon as I press ok it changes it to solid black. I included a cropped picture of what I'm talking about. All the tail feathers need to have that black fade but without the white, it needs to fade out to transparent like the other gradients around it. I put a color background behind the image to make these areas easier to see. It seems like there should be an easy solution, but I'm not sure how to do it. Any help would be really appreciated.

Edit: set all mesh point to black.
Assuming that your version of Illustrator allows it, you can get what you want by adjusting the opacity of the mesh points, something like this:

Using Gradient Mesh & Eyedrop Tool

I am trying to use the gradient mesh tool and the eyedrop tool to create a photorealistic illustration. But for some reason whenever I create a mesh, the shape turns solid white making it impossible to select the color from the photo beneath my mesh. Why is this happening and how do i make it stop!?

Meshes cannot have a color of "None". In CS5 and above you can lower the opacity of colors, but that won't help you.
So work with two layers: one for the photo, one for the meh(es). Set the mesh-layer to outline mode. Then you can see the photo below and pick up colors. You'll have to change the view a lot from outline to preview, hide the photo etc.

Why can't I use the mesh tool? - brand new illustrator user

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!

You need to select the shape and then click inside of it with the
tool. I'm not positive but I think it needs to be a solid for it to
work as well.
Some tutorials that I thought were rather helpful on explaining it
were on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8ZDViCmo7w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdH2hAUUPbg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDkBAN9XRoo
The person in those videos covers creating the mesh and coloring it,
patching, very nice. Hope those can help you out.

Can the Gradient Mesh Tool "web" be converted to an object to create 3D looking graphics?

I am attempting to make a similar graphic with this 3D appearance , using AI CS5.1
The nature of how the gradient mesh tool appears would achieve the desired effect.
I am trying to find a way, to capture and/ or add a stroke to the gradient mesh framework (seen in red) and/or save the mesh as an object.
Suggestions, thoughts, work-arounds most appreciated.
Thank you.
~design_element

Assuming you're not going to do some very precise scientific studies, you may want to create rectangular grids and experiment with Envelopes (located in the Object menu).

Question about gradient mesh tool

Hello, I am using the gradient tool for the first time and when I touch on an object to lay a gradient, the mesh seems to choose a set of anchor points to anchor to. If I want to anchor the gradient mesh to different points, how do I change them?

You need to keep in mind that the mesh is always constucted like a table. It has 4 corners. It's possible to set these 4 corners. All the other points are somewhat dependant on them, but can be moved using the gradient mesh tool. Read the manual on that.
To set the 4 corners:
Assumind you have a path that consists of at least 5 points.
Select 4 points with the direct selection tool
OpenObject > Create gradient mesh
Enter values -> OK

Gradient mesh tool in a donut-type shape

Hello
I am trying to use gradient mesh in a donut-type shape. Basically I want the inner and outer circle of the donut to be black and the inner to fade to gray and back. In other words I want the gradient mest to follow the path. Now I realise that gradient mesh cannot do this. So what I did was cut my shape in four and then try to apply gradient meshes -- still it didn't work. Hopefully the below will explain what I am trying to do and what I end up doing!
Thanks in advance for your help
John

Or … if you find time to do some origami (note that it's just a related topic to entertain a little bit).
1. First, turn on Smart Guides in the View menu, set up some construction guides and draw a rectangle that has the same width as the circular guide, but 50 % of the circular guide's height. Like this:
2. Select the rectangle
3. Object > Create Gradient Mesh: 1 row, 4 columns
4. Direct select the top left mesh point
5. Double click the Scale Tool and choose Uniform Scale = 0 %
6. Now, select the second mesh point from the top left and scale it: Uniform Scale = 0 %
Repeat scaling each single mesh point until all direction lines completely scarper.
7. Direct select the lower 5 mesh points
8. Double click the Scale Tool and choose Uniform Scale = 0 %
9. The next step is to direct select mesh point B and drag it onto the circular guide's anchor point W.
10. Now, direct select mesh point D and drag it onto the circular guide's anchor point O.
11. Direct select mesh point A and drag it to the South Pole. Do the same with mesh point E. This is the result:
12. Take the Convert Anchor Point tool, click on mesh point N and Shift drag to the left until you reach the vertical guide G1.
13. With the Convert Anchor Point tool click on mesh point W and Shift drag to the bottom until you cross horizontal guide G3.
14. With the Convert Anchor Point tool click on mesh point O and Shift drag northwards until you cross horizontal guide G2.
15. Finally do the same at S, but note that there are actually two congruent mesh points, so you'll have to fiddle around a bit in order to drag out the direction lines. However, you should be able to get this:
Now take this mesh object and add it to any Symbol library, so that you can use it as a conical grad maker in future sessions where you just draw a rectangle, fill it with a linear gradient, place the symbol on top of the rectangle and execute the Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Top Object command.

Gradient Mesh Tool won't work over a standard gradient

How can I get the Mesh Tool to work over a gradient? If I place an RGB image and create a gradient mesh over it I can select each individual point and then use the color picker to pick a color underneath by clicking the placed image. However, if I create a gradient mesh over a standard gradient I can not pick up the color in the standard gradient that is below. What the color picker does is pick up the entire gradient. It doesn't put any color into the individual points of the gradient mesh.

Thanks guys for the answers. I appreciate it. I did determine that I could rasterize the gradient so it would be treated like a placed image. That breaks the vector attributes but it does work.
I swear that I tried all the modifier keys (ctrl, shift, alt, ctrl+shift, etc.) but I guess not. I was crunching out a job at 4AM and I guess I missed something. I do usually try all of them before I look for other options. I thought that I might have overlooked a switch or preference. But I couldn't find one. Using "shift" does in fact work well. Thanks for redirecting me back to the most simple solution.
It always amazes me how the mind works, although frustratingly. I bet that I tried "shift" and maybe missed the key (I don't look at the keyboard most of the time as I do it by feel) or I didn't push it all the way down. Whatever the malfunction, once my brain thought that I'd tried the "shift" key I never went back and tried it again. It just goes to show you, you need to try each potential solution several times before moving on.
Thanks for the answers. It has me rolling again and having a great time exploring the world of the gradient mesh.

How to use the mesh tool

I am not sure how to use the mesh tool

it can be tricky! it's best to use with geometric shapes and not random figures that you create with the pen or brush tools.
so lets say you wanted to make an apple using a real picture for reference. first off, you'd place the picture of the real apple in the background. next, you would choose the circle tool to create a circle around the apple. then, you would use the mesh tool and press the center anchor to create a simple grid looking form onto the circle. grab the selection tool to move around the anchor points surrounding the apple to make a more accurate outline. after this step, it's easier to add more anchor points for the actual apple! all you must do is grab the pen tool and add more anchor points along the path and use the selection tool to move the anchor points around the apple; eventually it'll look somewhat like a 3D graph of an apple. important tip to remember, the less lines the better. but a few are okay.
so after you've graphed/mapped out your apple you're going to want to press the selection tool and use your eyedropper tool to get an accurate color of the spot/anchor you selected. the basic point of the mesh tool is to outline a picture,@ and with the eyedropper tool you can use the exact colors from the original picture you're working from. i learned this technique from class. here's my example it can be a really useful tool if it's what you're looking for.

Can not use all the tools in my drawing markups any ideas on getting them to work?

Can not use all the tools in my drawing markups any ideas on getting them to work?

Hi tonys60181,
Could you please let me know what version of Adobe Acrobat are you using.
What all drawing tools are you unable to access?
Is this issue specific to one PDF file or all?
What exactly happens when you try to use any drawing markup?
Please let me know.
Regards,
Anubha

How can I use the versionning tool to make a coherent solution to export

how can I use the versionning tool to make a coherent solution to export all objects used in my project to other db schema for testing as well as for implementation .
I want to know proper steps to Import/export objects.
while I am exporting my Master repository and work repository then again importing the all , no problem comes all the physical logical schema mapping and mapping between interfaces retains but
while I am trying to export and import one or two packages on the ease of testing then I am getting so many mismatches manually I am setting all why so?
required ur suggestion
Palash Chatterjee

kelly-bot wrote:
Thanks for the tip, but like I said, I dont want to always have to use the arrow keys. Is it not possible to actually DRAG one pixel at a time? I recently upgraded to CC from CS3 and I keep running into things that feel like a downgrade. Super disappointed.
Our posts overlapped there. Are you saying you could reliably drag one pixel with CS3?
What other issues are you having? Things like the Crop tool can feel strange at first, but I promise you you'll never want to use Classic mode once you get used to it.

I can't use the cut tool above the primary timeline...

I can't use the cut tool above the primary timeline...
it only works on the primary timeline. why and what can I do?
thanks

Are you talking about the blade tool? You can use that on any clip, regardless of where it is. If you talking about using the keyboard shortcut, then the connected clip has to be selected. It doesn't have to be a storyline.

Can I use the mapping tool in Imovie for commercial purposes?

Can I use the mapping tool in Imovie for commercial purposes?

In general, yes.
For the legalese, see this Apple document, section 2.G.iii.
http://images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/iLife11.pdf

Can I use Gradient Mesh tool as a template to create a 3D looking graphic?

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