6. getting perfect gradients

sometimes i read the question how to pick up colors from bitmap images. The answer is very simple: press shift while using the color picker. To get the gradients right it can be a good idea to undock (do you say that? does that word exist?) the gradient palette and place it below the gradient and extend it to match the size of the gradient. In this example below it wouldn't really have been necessary but there are some more complex cases where it's quite usefull. Also, to not obscure the photo it's a good idea to move the shape away a bit. I do this with the arrow keys and the shift key (which moves it in bigger increments).


pic 9
7. A lot of work
pic 10. path view

pic 11: all gradient meshes used

pic 12: all blends used

pic 12: the lines with screen mode applied to them
Alright , that's about it. There is no big secret behind it. Except one: use a feathered-edge effect on highlights and other stuff that looks a little blurred, i used it a lot. Since i use the german version i'm not sure if that's the correct english name for it, it might also be called "soft edge" or "blur" or whatever. You find it under "effects > stylize".

The rest is a lot of work, that's all. There's no way around it. The following pics show the image broken into it's seperate parts.
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