Help! Outline view is not working with gradient mesh!

Annabelle, Hi.

To add to what has already been said, when working with Gradient Meshes, I often find it helpful to view in a second window, Preview mode. (Top menu, Window>New Window)

This way as you recolor, you can view your work in real time.

K

Hi, Annabelle,

I believe that you have over-complicated your setup. My guess is that something in steps 1 and 2 was not clear to you. I will attempt to explain how to fix the setup.

1. In the Layers panel cmd/ctrl-click the eye icon to the left of Layer 3. This will make the lemon image visible on the artboard.
2. Click the disclosure arrow to the left of Lemon [which is a sub-layer, and not the image itself]. This will reveal and allow access to the image in the Layers panel.
3. Click and hold on the image in the Layers panel and drag it upward until Layer 3 is highlighted, then release.
4. Click on the sub-layer Lemon to highlight it, then click the trash can icon at lower right to delete.
5. Double-click Layer 3 and make it a template layer with whatever dimming percentage you may prefer.
6. Double-click Layer 1 and turn off the Template setting.
7. With nothing selected or highlighted go to View menu > Outline of press cmd/ctrl-Y.

You may then proceed to Step 4 in your instruction book (clicking individual mesh points with the Direct Selection tool); however, in Step 5 I think you will find it necessary to shift-click with the Eyedropper tool to pick up the colors. You will need to return to Preview mode (cmd/ctrl-Y) to see the results of your color selection.

If this is not clear, or if I have goofed, please let us know and I or someone else will try to straighten it out for you.

Thanks,
Peter

The top layer with the mesh should be a normal layer. The bottom layer with the image should be a template layer (the bottom layer should not be in outline view)