Gradient Mesh Tool

One of the most puzzling tools to try to work with and explain in Illustrator is the Gradient Mesh tool. The basic principal of the tool is simple; take an ordinary shape and cut it up into regions that can be colored separately to give smooth gradients between the regions. You can control and manipulate the regions with the Direct Selection tool and the Gradient Mesh tool selector. I've struggled with this tool to create realistic effects. I could get it done, but I never felt like I had real control over the results.

Booke Nunez, of Lifeinvector.com, has a great tutorial for this tool, which really simplifies the process.

A couple of tips on the tutorial. When you create your mesh and then start filling colors in, follow these steps:

• Select one of the Gradient Mesh handles with the Gradient Mesh tool.


• Watch the cursor:
  
  
  
  • If it has a gray triangle with a four square grid, then you can select control points and directional handles in the mesh.
  
  
  • If it has a plus sign next to it, then you can add points.
  
  
  • If it has the cancel circle next to it, then you can't add a point.
  
  


• (U) is the shortcut for the Gradient Mesh tool


• (I) is the shortcut for the Eyedropper tool


• Be sure to select each point in the mesh and apply color to it, not just the interior points. That's why it's tedious

You can really create some stunning Illustrations with these techniques. I created this yellow pepper using the techniques in the tutorial.