This document discusses various editing and special effects tools in Illustrator including distorting objects, working with gradient meshes, using envelopes, and creating blends. It provides instructions on how to use the Pucker, Bloat, Twist effects to alter object shapes. It describes how to create and manipulate gradient mesh objects and apply colors and opacity. It explains how to use envelope objects to distort selected objects and preset warp shapes. It also outlines how to create blends between two or more objects using specified steps or distance and manipulate the blend spine.

1. Chapter 7
Working with Distortions, Gradient
Meshes, Envelopes, and Blends

2. Objectives
• Edit colors and distort objects
• Work with gradient meshes
• Work with envelopes
• Create blends

3. Edit Colors and Distort Objects
• Illustrator provides a number of effects that
you can use to alter the shape of an object.
• The Pucker & Bloat effect adjusts the
segments between an object’s anchor points.

4. Edit Colors and Distort Objects
Before Pucker effect
After Pucker
effect;
segments appear
curved
inward
Original shape
of object is
evident by
bounding box

5. Edit Colors and Distort Objects
• The Bloat effect is achieved by moving the
segments outward and the anchor points
inward.

6. Edit Colors and Distort Objects
Before Bloat effect
After Bloat effect—
segments are moved
outward

7. Edit Colors and Distort Objects
• The Twist effect rotates an object more
sharply in the center than it does at the edges,
creating a whirlpool effect.

8. Edit Colors and Distort Objects
Before Twist effect
After Twist effect;
center is rotated
more than edges

9. Edit Colors and Distort Objects
• The Edit Colors commands on the Edit menu
are very useful for quickly applying color
changes to objects.
• The changes are applied directly to the
objects; they are not effects.

10. Edit Colors and Distort Objects
• You can saturate colors or desaturate colors in
an illustration.
• You can also use the Convert to Grayscale and
Blend Front to Back commands.

11. Edit Colors and Distort Objects
Blend Colors Front to Back

12. Edit Colors and Distort Objects
© 2011 Delmar Cengage
Learning
Saturate filter
intensifies color
Convert to Grayscale
filter removes all
chromatic color

13. Work with Gradient Meshes
• The Mesh tool and the Create Gradient Mesh
command can be used to transform a basic
object into a mesh object.
• A mesh object is a single, multicolored object
in which colors can flow in different directions,
and colors transition gradually from point to
point.

14. Work with Gradient Meshes
• When you create mesh objects, multiple mesh
lines crisscross the object.
• Mesh points are diamond-shaped and work
like anchor points.
– Can be assigned a color
– When assigned, color flows outward from point

15. Work with Gradient Meshes
• Area between
four mesh points
is a mesh patch.
• Apply color to all
four mesh points
simultaneously
by applying color
to patch.
Mesh
line
Mesh
patch
Mesh line
Mesh
point

16. Work with Gradient Meshes
• You can apply opacity settings to a mesh point
on a gradient mesh.
• Select one or more points on the mesh, then
drag the slider in the Transparency panel.

17. Work with Gradient Meshes
• Mesh points can be added, deleted, and
moved along mesh line without altering mesh
shape.
• Manipulate anchor points’ direction lines to
alter shape of mesh.

18. Work with Gradient Meshes
• The shape of the mesh is
manipulated by direction
lines.
• Mesh points can be
moved, just like anchor
points.

19. Work with Gradient Meshes
• You can create a mesh object from any path.
• You cannot create a mesh from compound
paths or text objects.
• Use the Mesh tool or apply the Create
Gradient Mesh command.

20. Work with Gradient Meshes
• The Create Gradient Mesh command creates
a mesh object with regularly spaced mesh
lines and mesh points.

21. Work with Gradient Meshes
Create Gradient
Mesh dialog box
Mesh object
deselected

22. Work with Gradient Meshes
• Once you create a mesh object it can’t be
converted back.
• Complex mesh objects are a memory drain
and may effect computer performance.
– Better to create a few simple mesh objects rather
then a single complex one

23. Work with Gradient Meshes
Mesh points
at the edge of
the objects
are filled with
black
Three interior
mesh points
darkened

24. Work with Envelopes
• Envelopes are objects used to distort selected
objects.
• Objects take on shape of envelope object.

25. Work with Envelopes
• Make envelopes with:
• Objects you create
• Preset wrap shapes
• Mesh objects
• Use envelopes with compound paths, text
objects, meshes, and blends.

26. Work with Envelopes
Object
to be
distorted
Top object
to be used
as an
envelope
Resulting
envelope
effect

27. Work with Envelopes
• Create envelopes with top objects, meshes,
and wraps.
• Create an envelope by using the Envelope
Distort command on the Object menu.

28. Work with Envelopes
• Make with Warp – 15 premade shapes
• Make with Mesh – same as gradient. meshes
made with Mesh Tool.
• Make with Top Object – top most selected
object.

29. Work with Envelopes
An envelope
created using a
warp.

30. Work with Envelopes
• Envelopes can distort objects with linear
gradient fills or pattern fills.
• Click the Distort Linear Gradients or Distort
Pattern Fills in Envelope Options dialog box to
activate.

31. Work with Envelopes
Set options in the
Envelope Options
dialog box.

32. Create Blends
• A blend is a series of intermediate objects and
colors between two or more selected objects.

33. Create Blends
• Blends are created with:
– Blending tool or
– Make Blend command

34. Create Blends
• Make blends between:
– two open paths
– two closed paths
– objects filled with gradients
– blends

35. Create Blends
• The fewer the number of steps in a blend, the
more distinct each object will be.
• A large number of steps creates the illusion of
being continuous or “smooth.”

36. Create Blends
• In Blend Options dialog box select
– Specified Steps
– Specified Distance
– Smooth Color – default option

37. Create Blends
• You can create a
simple blend
between open
paths.
• You can create
color effects with a
blend and a mask. Chrome letters
created with a blend
and a mask

38. Create Blends
You can apply blends to paths.

39. Create Blends
• Affect the appearance of a blend by
manipulating its spine.
• When blend created, path is drawn between
starting and ending objects – referred to as
spine and manipulated like a path.

40. Create Blends
• Examples:
– Add anchor points to spine with Pen tool, then
move them with Direct Selection tool
– Spine can be replaced by drawing a path with Pen
tool, then select it along with any blend and apply
the Replace Spine command

41. Create Blends
Anchor point
added and then
dragged down
to alter blended
spine