- In this chapter I'll take you on an absolutely
blissful tour of one of the most impressive
features in all of Illustrator.
I know, I'm always saying stuff like that.
But seriously, you're gonna like this.
The feature in question goes by
the name Gradient Mesh.
And it allows you to add points of shadow and
highlight inside a single path outline,
so that you can take an otherwise flat shape and
make it appear contoured and volumetric and
just plain full on real.
Think of Gradient Mesh as a kind of net that you
cast across the height and width
of a path outline.
At the intersection of any two ropes in that net
there exists an anchor point.
You can, of course, move that anchor point around
to any location you like which adds contours
to the net, which in turn implies
an element of depth.
But you can also assign each point a unique
color which in turn causes Illustrator to create
a series of miniature gradients between every
single pair of colorful anchor points.
Look at me.
No, I'm serious, just for a second, look at me.
Now look at these flat, almost cartoonish
looking path outlines,
which thanks to Gradient Mesh,
we're gonna turn into this dramatic, dimensional,
final piece of art.
I mean seriously, Photoshop,
why don't you have this feature?
Now look at me again,
you can't can you?
I don't blame you.
Gradient Mesh, it's so much better.