Free Illustrator plugin - Mesh Tormentor for work with Gradient Meshes

Plugin installation is done by copying a YemZMeshTormentor.aip file into directory \ Plug-ins \ Extensions \, located as installed by Adobe Illustrator (for example C: \ Program Files \ Adobe \ Adobe Illustrator CS2 \ Plug-ins \ Extensions \). In this case, Adobe Illustrator itself should not be running.

In this short review I will introduce you to the features of this plugin which, in my opinion, has the greatest practical value.

This command converts hidden knots on the mesh lines into visible ones that can be edited. When you create a gradient mesh for the figures that have a complex shape, grid lines often comes out to be broken, complex, very difficult or impossible to control. Take a look at it on the example with the star.

This happens because these lines have hidden knots on them that we cannot edit. Click on "convert knots into vertexes” button, now these knots are visible and manageable.

If you hold down the Ctrl button and press the same button from the Mesh Tormentor palette, then all hidden nodes will be removed.

If you hold down the Alt key and execute this command, then all hidden knots will be removed with adjustment of the guides in order to bring a new line to the view that it had with hidden knots.

You have to be careful when using the latter command because it can lead to the change of the outline of the object.

This command converts corner mesh knots into smooth ones. The command can be applied to a single node or to all the nodes of the gradient mesh.

This command allows you to combine two or more mesh objects into one. It is possible to set different types of combing, using hot Ctrl and Alt keys on the keyboard.

Selection of knots on the connection sides is used for mandatory specification of side connection.

This command cuts into two objects down the line that passes through the selected side knot.

With this command you can create a gradient mesh previously, without using the Gradient Mesh Tool (U). Let's take a look at it when it is applied. Suppose we have an elliptically shaped object on which a gradient mesh of a given shape will be created. Create grid lines using the Pen Tool (P).

Select all the created objects and click on the Divide button from the Pathfinder palette.

Keeping it selected, click on the "Create mesh from one cell based on the path” button from the Mesh Tormentor palette.

As you can see, all the cells, except for two, turned into mesh objects. The fact is that mesh object can have at least 4 knots. Those objects that have not turned into a mesh have three nodes. This is not a problem, take the Pen Tool (P) and add each anchor point to both paths of these objects.

Now they can be converted into mesh objects.

Now you only have to combine all the mesh objects into a single one.

Now you can create any kind of mesh you want!

Now you can create brushes from mesh objects, let's look how it's done. Create any mesh object.

Now execute the command "create a gradient mesh for a brush” by clicking the appropriate button in the Mesh Tormentor palette.

Gradient mesh turned into a group of simple vector objects that can now be moved to the Brushes palette and saved such as the Art Brush.

Now create a curve line using the Pen Tool (P) and apply the created brush to it.

Keep it selected, go to Object> Expand Appearance.

Now perform a single reverse operation, we will obtain a mesh from brush.

That’s a miracle! Imagine how much time you save, and what you can create.

Some gradient meshes created by beginners look terrible. Abrupt transitions between colors, artifacts. Why does it happen? Because the grid lines intersect with each other and form knots. It is also not desirable when knot handles intersect with mesh lines. So, the "handles 1 / 3" command will help you to untangle these knots. This command makes the handles of the selected knots decrease and become equal to 1 / 3 of the length between adjacent knots. The figure below shows a grid containing tangled grid lines what usually happens when you try to combine mesh knots.

Now apply the "handles 1 / 3" command

What more could a mesh master desire?

This command is similar to the previous one, the only thing is that the length of the handles after it is applied becomes equal to zero.

It aligns the selected knots horizontally. Alignment can be performed in the center, on the right or left side.

Align the selected knots of the vertical line. Alignment can be performed in the center, on the top or bottom edge. Combining horizontal and vertical alignment, you can collect the selected knots into a single point.

It is often needed in practice.

This is not a complete functionality of this wonderful plugin. Here is a list of what else it can do, what I did not mention in this review::

 
• Show axes and / or angular mesh node.
 
• Move corner node;
 
• Mesh colors shift;
 
• Mesh colors reflection;
 
• Mesh colors rotation;
 
• Color cloning on another mesh;
 
• Converting mesh into a set of paths;

Complete Guide

Plugin installation is done by copying a YemZMeshTormentor.aip file into directory \ Plug-ins \ Extensions \, located as installed by Adobe Illustrator (for example C: \ Program Files \ Adobe \ Adobe Illustrator CS2 \ Plug-ins \ Extensions \). In this case, Adobe Illustrator itself should not be running.

Take a look at the plugin presentation slides created by the author

Video of the work of all the Mesh Tormentor tools

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