How to use the Gradient Mesh Tool in Illustrator

Ahhhhh... BEHOLD... the GRADIENT MESH TOOL! This is one of those tools that I didn't even know existed until recently. Well, I mean, I knew it was there but no idea why or how to use it. Wow, was I surprised. Not only is it SUPER easy to use but this tool takes your illustration from a flat and boring banana to HOLY GUACAMOLE that looks like a real banana in, literally, less than 5 minutes. Give it a whirl and show me your results! #adobeillustrator #adobeillustratortutorial #gradientmeshtool

More tutorials on my website!

[PolymerJones]

Hey, instead of having to write down colors when making the gradient, you can use the eyedropper tool and SHIFT CLICK to select just that color for that segment of the gradient

[karencampos]

For the spots I find it easier to use an elipse and eye drop the spots from the reference as a solid fill, set the transparency to Multiply and then add a Guasian Blur effect. Then you can just play around with the Blur amount and the transparency percentage as you get to the smaller dots.

[eminorb]

Thanks Erin, very easy to understand, FYI - by the way you can use eye dropper to assign color to gradient that easier than key-in number. (click "I" for eye dropper, press "Shift" then click on the small square of gradient color you want to change, then use eye dropper to suck up the color from another object)

[SANDY]

U r the first one in youtube who's tutorial is audible. Others I just can't hear what they're saying, u r more clear and thank you so much, I mean it.

[lawaltolu]

Love your communication skill and tone. Not something very common with most tutorial videos i can find online

[oussamabourahla]

you can also make one brown spot as a sample and make from it a brush then just draw with it. It's a lot more easier

[CVerse]

If you have it enabled, you can copy each attribute then do Windows + V to open your clipboard and select what you want to past. It's super helpful for me, and it even works on images

[FMAiscool]

I looked up this tutorial because I forgot how to use the mesh tool, but now I remember that it helps making one mesh cut down the middle vertically, then shape it until it looks like the 3D shape of the banana, then continue with the horizontal and shape it, and then continue the rest of the mesh cuts. That should make the anchor points follow the curve better. Thank you for the tutorial!

[manuelagmz]

You can use the swatches to drag and drop colors into the gradients.

[UnknownUser-reyg]

The perfect voice tone built for teaching.

[nidu]

A ton of Appreciation, for how nicely you have taught me to use this tool. Thanks a lot!

[chrisk]

Erin, thank you for this tutorial. The info you provided helps me understand the mesh tool a lot better than the class I took a month ago. I have learned that there are many ways to use all the tools in Illustrator. Everyone has their own way of doing things.🐶

[techroh]

thanks to your video I finished my dogital design homework on time!

[mikewazowski]

First tutorial that didn't give me anxiety while watching. Was easy to follow along.
Loved it. 👍🏻🙂

[rashawnnahawkins]

Your tutorial was so clear on what to do. Thanks!! Needed help with this for my project.

[estudio]

Good tutorial! As for for creating the brown gradient spot, after created the circle, 1 easier way is to select the pre-created brown, go to the color creation toolbox, drag the wanted color directly into the gradient tool box instead of typing in the percentage number one by one.

[gleebgreek]

I have been wanting to learn how to use the mesh tool for some time. This tutorial explains it so well. THANKS!

[ishanprashar]

Damn! Worked like a charm! Thank you soooo much!

[A.Weirdo.I.Guess]

Tq, im very late maybe, now my drawings is more dimensional thanks to you

[adolfhitler]

You are great .. Keep uploading new stuff