Chapter 15: Bend with Envelopes and the Liquify Tools

Overview

In this chapter, you ll explore different ways of quickly applying major transformations to illustrations using envelopes, gradient meshes, and the liquify tools.

An envelope is a shortcut for reshaping an object so that the original shape is warped and reshaped into a different shape but still maintains its original path structure. Envelopes can be selected from a set of preset shapes, they can be created from shapes you make, or they can be defined by applying a grid-like mesh to an object. Related to this last option, gradient meshes not only warp objects, but allow a very high level of control over blending colors within an object.

The liquify tools make rather drastic changes to objects and aren t so easily controllable. They come as close as any set of tools in Illustrator to giving credence to the misconception that computer art is generated ”that is, that digital artists simply push some buttons and art happens. But they can be fun, and there is a role for experimentation and even chance in art, so the liquify tools have their function.