Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
JACKMORE
Bending Mesh
Converting Gradients to Mesh for Editing
Overview: Draw objects and fill with linear gradients; expand gradient-filled objects into
gradient meshes; use various tools to edit mesh points and colors.
For many images, gradients can be useful for showing the gradual change of light to
shadow (if you need to learn more about creating and applying gradient fills, first see
Unified Gradients , ” earlier in this chapter). For her rolling hills, artist Lisa
Jackmore expanded linear gradients into gradient mesh objects so she could better
control the curves and contours of the color transitions.
1 Drawing objects and then filling them with linear gradients. Begin your illustration by
creating closed objects with any of the drawing tools. After drawing each object, fill it
with a linear gradient (although in some objects radial gradients might look better
before you convert them to mesh objects, linear gradients create mesh objects that
are much easier to edit). For each linear gradient, customize the colors, and adjust
the angle and length of the gradient transition with the Gradient tool and Gradient
Annotator until you can best approximate the desired lighting effect. Jackmore creat-
ed three hill-shaped objects with the Pen tool, filled them with the same linear gradi-
ent, then customized each with the Gradient tool and Annotator.
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