Gradient Mesh prob: selection turns black

Hi, I am a beginning Illustrator user and trying out the mesh tool.
When I select an object and apply the tool, the selection turns black, while the selection is orange.
What am I doing wrong?
Thanks for replying!
Thomas

Hi Scott,
Thanks for the fast reply.
So I am creating a square icon in gradient dark orange to light orange. I copy and paste in front and alt-transform it a bit smaller. I color it with the darkest orange of the gradient, en then want to give a specific region in the square a clear shine by using the mesh tool.
I uses CS6 and windows. By the way, the color switches automatically to black.
See also this picture:
Thanks!

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Or … if you find time to do some origami (note that it's just a related topic to entertain a little bit).
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[URL=http://img515.imageshack.us/my.php?image=surefiremusicnote.jpg][IMG]http://img515.ima geshack.us/img515/9348/surefiremusicnote.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

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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?
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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?
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Is there a way to automate it. i.e. to make a mesh automatically sample the colors of the bitmap directly beneath it, each knot to its corresponding pixel ? A patch, a plug-in, something of the sort ?
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OT

Gradient Mesh prob: selection turns black

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