Creating a mesh object


    Use the Mesh tool or the Create Gradient Mesh command to convert vector objects to mesh objects, and use the Mesh tool to modify the object's colors and mesh points. You can also use the Expand command to convert objects that use a gradient into mesh objects.

To create a mesh object by clicking:

    Select the Mesh tool Mesh tool and do one of the following:

    • To add a mesh point colored with the current fill color (the fill box in the toolbox or Color palette), click anywhere in a filled vector object. The object is converted to a mesh object with the minimum number of mesh lines relative to the object's properties.
    • To add a mesh point without changing to the current fill color, press Shift and click anywhere in a filled vector object.

    The object is converted to a mesh object with the minimum number of mesh lines relative to the object's properties.

    Important: If you assign a spot color to a mesh point, Illustrator will convert the color to a process color when printing separations.

To create a mesh object by setting the number of rows and columns:

  1. Select a bitmap or filled vector object.
  2. Choose Object > Create Gradient Mesh.
  3. Set the number of rows and columns of mesh lines to create on the object by entering numbers in the Rows and Columns text boxes.
  4. Choose the direction of the highlight from the Appearance pop-up menu:
    • Flat to apply the object's original color evenly across the surface, resulting in no highlight.
    • To Center to create a highlight in the center of the object.
    • To Edge to create a highlight on the edges of the object.
  5. Enter a percentage of white highlight to apply to the mesh object. A value of 100% applies maximum white highlight to the object; a value of 0% applies no white highlight to the object.
  6. To preview the mesh in the document window, select Preview.

To create a mesh object using the Expand command:

  1. Select an object containing a gradient fill.
  2. Choose Object > Expand.
  3. Select the Gradient Mesh option in the Expand dialog box and click OK. The selected object is converted to a mesh object that takes the shape of the gradient, either circular (radial) or rectangular (linear).