Adobe Illustrator Vector Art: First Gradient Mesh Artwork

Hey, peeps. It's been a few so here's a little update.  While I was resting my arm/wrist, I decided to look through some scrap work.  I found this old gradient mesh test image I did a while back. You can use Google to find out more about gradient mesh. To summarize, with g.mesh, you can get really realistic vector art images by using a grid technique. I started a few years back when I used a trial version of Adobe Illustrator. The idea was quite attractive but time consuming. This is my very first mesh accompanied by the wire mesh.  I wasn't sure how to export the wire outline as an image file.  So, I just took a screen capture of it.

 

Yep..I know it's nothing really special. But it was a start. From what I hear, the Inkscape team is working on a gradient mesh tool of their own. However, I wanted a program that I could use now (the AI trial has run out). I searched for other vector programs and came across one called Serif Draw Plus. I looked into it and decided to give it a try. There's a free starter edition that comes with gradient mesh! Pretty cool. I will probably always be partial to Inkscape having used it for quite some time now. All this has me thinking if I should get back into meshing. I will look into that possibility. Anyway, that's it for now.  Later!

Inkscape Vector Art Speed Time Lapse Illustration: Drakkar Noir Cologne

Hey! So, the "appetizer" (hold you over) vector art I promised is here. I wanted to do something simple. I decided to vector a cologne I've worn for a while. It was a pretty easy vector to make. I used Inkscape 0.48 to make this. You can download that program here: inkscape vector program

Like I said, it was fairly simple to do. It was the reflection of light on the bottle that took a bit of work to put together. I did my best to make the highlights soft and seamless with the rest of the bottle. I did this by applying Gaussian blur and gradients handles to the highlights. But yeah..this is the video.

The photograph used in this speed vector was taken by me with the Canon 60D. Drakkar is copyright Parfums Guy Laroche (just in case anyone's nit picky or whateva).

So, yeah..I'll talk to you in a couple. Ciao!