Freeform Gradients in Adobe Illustrator CC 2019

As usual, we know that when we double click on the gradient tool or when we navigate to Window>Gradient, it pops up the gradient panel, and when we click on the gradient bar, it fills the color either in linear or radial mode. Apart from these 2, the new update is freeform gradient.

One of the new features in Illustrator CC 2019 is named Freeform Gradients (Diffuse Gradients). The new Freeform Gradients allow you to create natural and photo-realistic gradients. Gradients can be created using points or lines. All you need to do is to click on the canvas to add points which can be moved and adjusted.

In other words, we can call it simplified mesh.

There are 2 methods to deal with the freeform gradient, either you will use points or lines.

If you are using points, it will generate a new color stop on the object with every click and when you double click on that stop, directly on the shape, it will give you live editing on the shape itself, which can be dragged in the desired direction, and if you do not need one of the stops just click on the trash button.

When you use the line, it will give you controls as if you are moving the colors from one point to another with direct selection or pen tool or anchor tool. Remember, we are not talking about these tools, but the controls it gives are like this.