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SanFranJohn
Participating Frequently
February 10, 2017
Question

Changing gradient mesh to outline view in Illustrator CC

  • February 10, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 3141 views

I am trying to color and shape a gradient mesh object using a reference photo underneath.  Tutorials say that I change my mesh object to outline view by clicking the mesh icon while depressing my ctrl button (using Windows 10) at the same time; allowing me to see the photo underneath.  This is in place of pressing ctrl y which changes everything to outline view.  Well, that doesn't work.  I know I'm doing something incredibly dumb but I'm not sure what it is.  Any suggestions?  Thank you in advance.

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    3 replies

    Jeff Witchel, ACI
    Community Expert
    Jeff Witchel, ACICommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 13, 2017

    You want to Control-click on the Visibility Eye of the Gradient Mesh Layer in the Layers panel. Here's a video about the process that may help: http://www.jeffwitchel.net/2012/01/gradient-mesh-magic/

    At 3:30 into the video, you'll see what I'm referring to.

    S
    SanFranJohnAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 12, 2017

    Thank you very much.  The photo stays visible, but my issue was in getting the gradient mesh colors to be transparent while still showing the anchor points and lines  The tutorials I've accessed mentioned clicking the mesh icon in the layers palette while depressing the ctrl key.  This enables one to sample the underlying photo colors into the mesh.  There are work arounds but I was hoping for this simpler approach.  I do appreciate your response however. 

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 12, 2017

    What you say about the layers panel only works on layers.

    So you have to have the template photo and the mesh in different layers and then you can change the mesh layer (or whatever is on that layer) to outline vew. But this doesn't work on single objects (and AFAIK never has)

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 11, 2017

    Put the reference photo on a template layer. A real template layer, not just an extra layer.

    In template layers, photos stay visible even in outline view.

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