Gradient mesh kinks

I am using cs3 on a g5. I have little kinks in the outline of my gradient mesh shape that are impossible to delete or smooth out. Please help because I have a terrible deadline as usual!
Carlo

I've found that the way you get rid of these kinks is that you add anchor points on either side of the kink, and then you select those two anchor points and delete. This will delete all the "helper" points between the two points.
I don't get why you can't just edit the helper points directly. They show up as mini anchors when you use the Anchor+ and Anchor- tools, but clicking on them using the Anchor- tool does nothing (I guess the developer's never heard of the Principle of Least Astonishment). And then when you click on the anchor selection tool, the helper points all disappear—and that is the most insidious part, as you cannot see the helper points when you are using the convert tool or dragging the handles. So I spent many hours wondering why the vector on one side of the anchor seemingly would not obey/respond to any changes in the handle position.
Very, very frustrating until I figured out the adjacent anchors trick...
If this is indeed an intended behavior and something which has existed in all previous versions of Illustrator and also in CS5, then there must be some other underlying reasoning or usage method that I am not aware of.

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Gradient Mesh - distorted segments with no anchor points

I often run into very strange behaviour with the Gradient Mesh tool, where a line segment becomes heavily warped (kinked, looped or with a hard angle in it) that has no anchor points or control handles to account for the distorted line segment. I've only seen this happen with the Gradient Mesh tool. In my most recent occurrence of this issue I have what should be a gently curved segment between two flat control points, and instead there's this massive "kink" in it that has a hard angle and nearly a loop that has nothing at all to do with the anchor points. There are no anchor points in-between these two (I started with a rectangle and just started adding and manipiulating points).
Anyone else know what I'm talking about and have a workaround or solution? Or even an explanation of why this occurs might make me less frustrated.
t

Thanks for the response, Mike. I checked the surrounding points as a matter of first-line diagnosis, and nothing explains this distortion.
In the image above you can see a "hump" which is not accounted for by any of the handles. The position of both control handles on each side of the segment would indicate a concave segment. The anterior handle of the circled point surprisingly has no effect whatsoever on the segment it is attached to - it is unclear to me what segment it is then controlling.

[CS4] Gradient Mesh- uneditable "helper" points

How do I delete the extra points that appear along a path when using the Gradient Mesh tool?
If you create an organic shaped object then convert it to a gradient mesh you get a cross pattern with handles at the mesh points. Adding more paths creates more paths. But sometimes these paths have invisible helper points which cause kinks when you try to edit the line. They try to maintain their original shape when the path is moved via the mesh point handles. Anyone who's worked with gradient meshes knows this. By deleting these extra points, the line becomes smooth and workable. It's absolutely essential for example when an additional line is added with the gradient mesh tool and the line takes a shortcut extending it beyond the parameters of the artwork. By deleting the points, the line can be edited and guided back inside the artwork's edges.
To see these extra points, press the + or - key while the mesh object is selected.
Previous versions of Illustrator allowed these extra points to be deleted. In CS you merely had to click the - key to change the pen tool to the delete pen tool. Clicking the points was identical to removing anchor points. Simple, easy and absolutely necessary.
In CS3 the minus-pen tool stopped working until after many hours of searching on the internet I found that by unchecking the "Snap to Point" in the preferences, made it work again.
I make my living by illustrating. The gradient mesh tool is a huge part of what I do. Without the ability to edit these points the tool is useless.
I hope they are still editable or I'll have to go back to CS3.
Thank you.
BD

StrongBeaver wrote:
Using the remove points pen tool does not work for me on gradient mesh points. The gradient mesh adds vertical or horizontal lines I want to remove either a point or an entire line.
rcraighead - Already tried your suggestion before asking, didn't work.
Use the direct select tool to select the anchor point you wish to delete then hit delete. The mesh will be deselected after you hit delete so you have to reselect it and you will see that the anchor point and mesh line associated with it are gone.
Ray-
The need to deselect the snap to point option in the preferences persists for CS 5 *** well.
this is how the direct select to and the delete key work out.
If you want just one line you have to select the point that intersects with the outer path.

Need help with adding shadows to a shape (gradient mesh?...blur tool?)

Hello. I'm an Illustrator novice, as you will be able to tell from my question. I'm somewhat familiar with the gradient mesh tool as well as the raster effects that Illustrator CS3 offers, but I can't figure out how to use them to do what I have to do.
Here's my situation. I'm creating a logo design. It is a musical note with a flame coming off of it. I want to add the appearance of the shape having shadows (yellow for the light areas, and red for the shadowed areas).
I can't get the gradient mesh tool to work because I'm assuming the shape is too complex. I understand that I could probably just create a bunch of different gradient mesh areas and just try to mesh them together, but is this necessary? ...and is chopping my shape into mulitple sections really the best method ? (it sure doesn't seem like the logical solution).
Then I tried using Illustrators blur effects. I'm concerned to even use them for a logo design, because the "blur" effect is raster, and with a logo; it's probably not wise to use anything raster, correct? Anyway...i can't get it to work. I created a shape using the pen tool to replicate the shape of the shadow. When i blur it, the blur is visable outside the original logo shape. I don't know how to make it stop at the path edge. Does anyone know how?
If anyone can please help me here, I would be more than grateful. I realize these questions probably stupid ones, but I just can't seem to figure out how to do this, despite reading tutorials and watching numerous youtube videos on the gradient mesh tool; I can't seem to figure out how to adapt it to my situation.
Here is the image I created in Photoshop. I am trying to duplicate it in Illustrator CS3.
[URL=http://img515.imageshack.us/my.php?image=surefiremusicnote.jpg][IMG]http://img515.ima geshack.us/img515/9348/surefiremusicnote.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Thanks Steve and Jet. I've spent the lasts 2 hours calling around to different print shops in hope that I can maybe trade labor for insight into their printing process. Problem is there seems to be a lack of 4 color offset printing companies who also offer spot colors. I really wish I had the money to take a class, but when I do, I will. I just contacted a few freelance designers who seem to have a lot of print work in their portfolios. Maybe they can teach me a thing or two, and in return I can drop them a few bucks or help them with something.
Jet, you've got me very concerned here. What do you mean by "It's not just a matter of selecting colors; it's also a matter of selecting the number of inks necessary to render them in the various reproduction methods in which the mark will be used"? Are you just stating the importance in using swatch books (Pantone)?
You mention the importance of a design being rendered in different forms (apparel, signs, promotional items..). So how should I go about doing this? Lets say a client wants a "mark" printed on all of the things you stated. Is it my duty to find out what printer they will be using before I submit design files to them? Is it the job of the designer to contact the print shop and get their profiles for different prints (glossy paper prints, matte paper prints, t-shirt printing, vehicle graphic printing)? This is all very time consuming, so should there not be extra charges when dealing with setting up different print settings for particular print jobs?
I've read the blogs of some successful logo designers. David Airey for example just submits his logo design to his client in eps form I believe (plus any requests). Should he be submitting a separate file for each intended use, or is this the job of the client and printer to work out?
You've got me extremely worried that I am going to really deal someone a bad hand here. As far as I know, this hasn't happened yet; but I'm glad you have me concerned. The sad part is that I do have a 2 year degree in graphic design and I didn't learn one thing about printing and it's association with color. The little I have learned is from the internet. I've checked out Amazon(dot)com for a good book on learning about color and print, but there seems to be a lack of recently written books (with reviews) regarding the subject. Can you recommend any?
I started doing freelance work because people would ask me to design a t-shirt for them, or a flyer for their small business. So I did. Now I have more people requesting my services. It's hard to turn down the money, especially in these times. But at the same time, I don't want to cause major headaches for anyone either. Until recently, I had no idea the complexity of the design to print process. Just 3 days ago, I purchased a monitor calibration device and my first set of Pantone guides. They should arrive shortly. I know, don't laugh.
My lack of knowledge regarding this whole thing has really got me questioning what I am doing. I figured all i really needed to know in Illustrator was to use the pen tool, since my use of Illustrator has been strictly for shaping logos.
There are just so many questions I have, and all can't be answered through a google search. I really don't like wasting your time with my ignorance, but I do appreciate your assistance. It takes some time for my little brain to absorb all of this, but I have been reading all I can from the endless tutorials and forum discussions available on the web. The problem I've found is that alongside the large amount of great info on the web, there is seemingly an equal amount of contradictory or partially inaccurate info as well. which only confuses me more. For example, most people say to design in cmyk for print (300dpi higher or vector). A rep from Pantone told me to create my designs using Pantones color swatch groups. Why would I want to start in Pantone? Don't all of their colors cost extra money (spot colors require a new printer plate and ink to be set up). Starting in cmyk seems like a more logical approach. Is he just trying to sell me Pantone?
Sorry for my redundant question regarding the concern for non-single colored paths not being able to join. You obviously answered my question with your example.
For your time, I would like to show my appreciation. If you wouldn't' mind leaving your paypal address, I can send ya a couple/few bucks. Books are great, but they can't answer all questions. Forums like this one are really very helpful and a great learning tool. I do realize I have to continue educating myself as much as possible. I'm not going to give up, that's for sure.
So, do you work for Adobe, or are you a graphic designer? Do you have a website with tutorials or a book I can buy lol?
It would be great to be able to see a walkthrough in the design process of a successful designer and the proper methods of designing for different forms of print.

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

Problems printing placed gradient mesh graphics

CS3 Illustrator and InDesign. Whenever a drawing is created in Illustrator using gradient mesh, and placed into an InDesign document, our printer (Ricoh Aficio 2232C with postscript) all the gradient mesh areas print from InDesign as solid black. I have tried changing every print setting I can think of, but it always comes out the same.
There are workarounds of course (like saving the illustration as a tiff) but I'd like to work with the original file if possible. Any ideas in how I can proceed in fixing this?

I wouldn't worry too much about trying to keep the original file intact. ... Of course you should, but there is nothing wrong with making a version "specially for print". It takes some discipline in that you have to edit the original file and always remember to save a flattened copy to update in your document.
You have to consider there are printers out there (the guys with the weathered faces and hot lead-resistant calluses, not the buzzing, ink-eating and paper spitting type -- okay, maybe they do that as well) with older RIP software or hardware that may have similar problems with very (very) complicated graphics. It's better to play safe than to re-make your image until it can just be processed by your own local printer.

Need help with Gradient Mesh

So I am trying to make a gradient mesh of the shape shown here...
But when I apply gradient mesh to it, I get a very unworkable result (as shown below) ...any suggestions on how I can make this?

This is a rectangle converted to a 2-row, 2-column gradient mesh and reshaped. Only nine points to deal with.
Peter

Can i save a vector with gradient mesh as isolated .PNG?

Hi,
Can i save a vector with gradient mesh as isolated .PNG?
It has some effects, so if i'm taking it out from the blue background it becomes darker.
Any advice? I need it isolated png for using it in an iOS app.
Many thanks

I am using Illustrator CS6, on Mac.
I can't copy and paste the "cloud" into a new document to save it, because it looses the effect of those filters (since the background is no longer behind it).
Sorry if im not explaining it right, i'm a beginner in illustrator. Can i group both the "cloud" and the blue background, to get just one shape: the realistic white cloud?
P.S: i can make a link with the .esp file of the clouds, if it helps.

Gradient mesh transparency problem when saving for web

Hi,
I created a shadow using a gradient mesh but I can't seem to figure out how to set the mesh points to multiply. As a result, when I do save for web, the white parts get saved as opaqe areas and the shadow png can't be placed on a colored background. Help.

...and aside from what Monika said, consider the limitations of transparency handling in web image formats as well as what impact the differences in handling of transparancies between browsers may have on the web site design.
Mylenium

Convert live trace object to gradient mesh? Help please! :)

Does anyone have advice on turning a live trace object into a gradient mesh? Or some sort of workaround? We love the live trace tool, but cannot get the mesh to apply to it unless created by the pen tool first. Thanks for any help, using CS5.

Yes Monika has this right.
Ths is wha will happen toyour rt if you are first sucessful in creating shapes and then if you are successful in converting to gradient mesh.
You willlose your strokes and some of your strkes will be in part filed objects.
Best to do the live trace for the ink work and the gradient mesh as separate shaphes, but I do not think it is ncessary to lose you strokes by using tham ads clipping paths I think simply placing the gradient mesh objects behind the line work will do the trick.
Sort of like this

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:

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

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

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

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).

Gradient mesh kinks

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