Watch this short video to learn how to use the mesh tool to create photorealistic vector graphics, or read through the step-by-step process below it to guide your work:.
Open with your image file with Adobe Illustrator. Double click on the on your image layer in the Layers Palette. Doing this makes your image layer into a template for your mesh shape, which will go on top of it.
Create a new layer on top of your original image layer, and use the Ellipse t ool to create a circle. This shows your mesh in Outline mode , so that you can still edit the mesh but can also see the photo layer underneath. Now click on the mesh icon in the side bar, then click in the middle of the circle. Click on different lines of the mesh to add more points, focusing on locations where the grape changes in color or value. Click on the eye dropper icon in the tool bar, hold down the Command or Control key and click on an intersecting mesh point inside your mesh shape.
Now that your point is selected, let go of the Command or Control key and click that same mesh point with the eye dropper tool. Doing that samples colors directly from the photo and applies them into my mesh. If you look at the Navigator palette you can see how your mesh shape is starting to look.
Now you have a grape. Catalog Illustrator. Set the number of Rows and Columns. Check Preview , if necessary, so you can see the grid, then click OK.
The grid has anchor points at the ends and intersections of the grid lines. Choose the Direct Selection Tool and click one of the anchor points and you'll that they are Connector Points with Bezier handles. This means you can adjust the contour of the grid lines, if necessary.
Select the Gradient Mesh Tool and make sure that Fill is active. Click on one of the grid points in the object, then click a color in the Swatches Panel. Continue selecting different grid points and applying color. Be careful around the edges. In fact, the Mesh Tool is one of the best ways to create one of those popular micrography portraits. Illustrator allows designers advanced control over the text forms using the Mesh Tool.
I created my micrography portrait of Dr. Read more about my choice and the creative strategy behind my micrography portrait in its Case Study.
One method places text characters to create a texture and fill in shadows on the subject. On one hand, a designer might choose whatever characters to best create a form or texture. On the other hand, a designer might restrict characters to a particular quote of the subject to add greater symbolic meaning to the portrait. Another method applies text along a line to curve and into hints of 3D forms.
These portraits often apply grayscale or colorful shading to enhance the 3D effect. This method allows designers to further characterize the portrait with legible quotes and phrases rather than isolated characters. Lastly, another method applies text to organic shapes. This warps text into whole shapes that hint 3D forms. Similar to the type on a line approach, some designers cover the portrait with quotes. Others build a high contrast portrait and shade the darkest portions with the quotes.
All three methods produce creative, eye-catching results. Micrography portraits explore shapes, textures, and how to make something look 3D in a 2D medium.
They also explore the construction of typefaces and how to use typography illustratively. In sum, they are excellent creative exercises and popular works of art! When making my micrography portrait of Dr. Irene Pepperberg and Alex, I knew I wanted to do the third creative approach described above.
Their quotes are meaningful, especially since the point of Dr. First, I identified a reference photo of the two together. Then, I set about outlining the shapes in Illustrator. When drawing out shapes in Illustrator for a micrography portrait, remember that larger shapes produce larger text. Also, longer, narrow shapes produce longer strings of text. I began with strokes only to better see the forms and my reference.
However, none of the shapes can overlap. Otherwise, text will lay over top on each other and become illegible.
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