Adobe Creative Cloud All-in-One For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Chapter 10

Working with Transparency and Special Effects Tools

IN THIS CHAPTER

Adding dimension with the Mesh tool

Getting to know the Blend tool

Using the Symbol Sprayer tool

Discovering transparency, blend modes, and opacity masks

This chapter is full of neat things you can do using some of the more advanced features in Adobe Illustrator. These special effects tools can help you create art that makes an impact: Discover how to make your art look like a painting with the Gradient Mesh tool, create morphlike blends with the Blend tool, become a graffiti artist by trying out the Symbol Sprayer tool, and see what’s underneath objects by using transparency.

The Mesh Tool

If you’re creating art in Illustrator that requires solid colors or continuous patterns, you can achieve those results quite easily. But if you’re working on an element that requires continuous tones, such as a person’s face, you turn to the handy Mesh tool to create smooth tonal variations in your illustration. Choose to blend one color into another and then use the Mesh tool to adjust your blend. You can also apply ...