Gradient mesh tool and image traced picture

[sugarcoated293]

Hi,

I have a hand drawn picture that I have image traced into vectors on Ai. Now I want to colour it in with different gradient colours and I am trying to use the gradient mesh tool but it will not let me.

What are the reasons? What are my options?

Thanks

[Ton Frederiks]

Did you Expand the tracing?

[Ton Frederiks]

And after expanding, you may have a Compound Path.

You will need to release it.

[sugarcoated293]

There is no option to expand it...as in I can't click on the expand button when I select it

[Ton Frederiks]

Then it is already expanded, I suppose.

Select the object you want to use for the gradient mesh and choose:

Object > Compound Path > Release

[sugarcoated293]

Some parts of my image are not working with gradient mesh after I have released Compound path...

[Ton Frederiks]

Can you select such a problem part and show the Appearance Panel and the Layers Panel (with that object and it's sublayers)?

[Ahmad_Yousef-ggdwkA]

Hi

You cannot create meshes from compound paths.

What you could do is create a mesh as a separate object and use the trace as a clipping mask.

Regards,

Ahmed Yousef