Free-form Gradient Problem - Reflecting Objects

[Bobby Henderson]

I have run into a problem with a graphic that's going to be large format printed and applied sub-surface to a sign face. The graphics have to be reflected 180° for sub-surface application to clear acrylic. Anyway, the graphic has a few objects with free-form gradient fills applied. When I flip the graphic horizontally the free-form gradient do not flip along with the rest of the graphic. I attached an example. The original graphic is on the left. The one on the right shows what happens with the graphic is flipped to a mirror opposite. The gradients don't follow along correctly. Is there some kind of setting or something I'm missing to prevent this. Or could this be a bug?

[Bobby Henderson]

I did figure out a possible work-around by using the Expand Appearance command. That makes it possible to flip the object and make the free-form gradients flip with it. But I don't know if the Expand Appearance command is turning those free-form gradients into raster-based objects or something else with fixed resolution. When I un-clip all the masking effects the "expanded" fill is just listed in the tool bar as "non-native art" and shows as a box with an X through it when viewed in outline mode.I

BTW, I have another tid-bit to add. This graphic only works for pasting between one layout to another when sized at relatively small sizes. I tried pasting a large 48" tall version of it (for a window graphic) into another layout and it totally crashed Adobe Illustrator.

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

I can replicate the reflect problem, looks like a bug.

You can report it here:

Adobe Illustrator Feedback

[Bobby Henderson]

I just posted a similar message there about the freeform gradient issue.

[Ton Frederiks]

Can you give a link, so I (and others) can vote?

[Ton Frederiks]

Found it: Freeform Gradient issue – Adobe Illustrator Feedback

[Ray Yorkshire]

On Illustrator 2015 I cannot reproduce it; maybe  I'm just not making a similar enough construction.

Do you get the same problem on an older version - I know you shouldn't need to use one

Don't really understand ''Expand Appearance  turning those free-form gradients into raster-based objects''

I know that happens when Illustrator identifies complex regions , that it has to rasterize in order to preserve appearance, but I thought  that was only after using flatten transparency,

[Ton Frederiks]

There was no Freeform Gradient in 2015

New and enhanced features | Latest release of Illustrator CC

[Ray Yorkshire]

Correct!

I broke the- don't post when tired rule