Applying mesh fills

When you fill an object with a mesh fill, you can create unique effects. For example, you can create smooth color transitions in any direction without having to create blends or contours. When you apply a mesh fill, you specify the number of columns and rows in the grid, and you specify the grid’s intersecting points. After you have created a mesh object, you can edit the mesh fill grid by adding and removing nodes or intersections. You can also remove the mesh.

Mesh fills were applied to the original drawing (left) to give it a realistic look (right).

A mesh fill can be applied only to closed objects or a single path. If you want to apply a mesh fill to a complex object, you must first create a mesh-filled object and combine it with the complex object to form a PowerClip object. For more information about working with PowerClip objects, see Creating PowerClip objects.

You can add color to a patch of a mesh fill and to the individual intersection nodes. You can also choose to mix colors for a more blended appearance.

Left: Adding a color to a mesh fill. Right: Moving an intersection node in a mesh fill lets you adjust the progression of colors.

In addition, you can smooth the color in a mesh fill to reduce the appearance of hard edges. You can also reveal objects underneath a selected area by applying transparency to the mesh fill.

To apply a mesh to an object

2 .	In the toolbox, click the Mesh fill tool .

You can also
Add a node or an intersection	Click once within a grid, and click the Add intersection button on the property bar. You can also add a node or an intersection by double-clicking within a grid.
Remove a node or an intersection	Click a node, and click the Delete nodes button on the property bar.
Shape the mesh fill	Drag a node to a new location.
Remove the mesh fill	Click the Clear mesh button on the property bar.

If the mesh object contains color, adjusting the intersection nodes of the mesh affects how the colors blend together.

You can also marquee select or freehand marquee select nodes to shape an entire area of the mesh. To marquee select nodes, choose Rectangular from the Selection mode list box on the property bar, and drag around the nodes that you want to select. To freehand select nodes, choose Freehand from the Selection mode list box, and drag around the nodes that you want to select. Holding down Alt while dragging lets you toggle between the Rectangular and Freehand selection modes.

You can add an intersection or a node by double-clicking in a space, or you can add a single line by double-clicking a line.

To fill a mesh with color

2 .	In the toolbox, click the Mesh fill tool .

You can also marquee select or freehand marquee select nodes to apply a color to an entire area of the mesh. To marquee select nodes, choose Rectangular from the Selection mode list box on the property bar, and drag around the nodes that you want to select. To freehand select nodes, choose Freehand from the Selection mode list box on the property bar, and drag around the nodes that you want to select. Holding down Alt while dragging lets you toggle between the Rectangular and Freehand selection modes.

To smooth color transitions in a mesh fill

2 .	In the toolbox, click the Mesh fill tool .

3 .	Make sure that the Smooth mesh color button on the property bar is enabled.

To apply transparency to a mesh fill

2 .	In the toolbox, click the Mesh fill tool .

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