Unleash the power of gradients
3. Create the gradient colors.
In the Gradient palette, click the left stop; in the Color palette, enter 22 for C and 11 for M. Click the middle stop; in the Color palette, enter 50 for K. Click the second stop from the right; in the Color palette, enter 40 for C and 20 for M.
Drag the new gradient fill from the Gradient palette into the Swatches palette to save it.
4. Create a bevel for the switch plate.
Select the rectangle that you drew in step 2. To create the bevel, choose Object > Path > Offset Path. In the Offset Path dialog box, enter –0.15 inches for Offset; click OK. You now have two rectangles, one slightly smaller on top of the other.
5. Transform the gradient to give the bevel depth.
Select the outermost rectangle. In the toolbox, click the Gradient tool and drag its pointer vertically from the top of the image to its bottom. In the Gradient palette, click the far right stop and delete it by dragging it down and out of the palette. Repeat the process to delete the next stop on the right from the palette.
Click the dark blue stop and drag it to the extreme right of the slider bar. Select the middle stop and move it to the middle of the slider.
6. Complete the switch plate bevel.
Select the inside rectangle. Select the Gradient tool and drag its pointer from the top left of the image diagonally to the bottom right. Select both rectangles, group them (Ctrl/Command+Shift+G), and lock them (Ctrl/Command+2).
7. Create the button switch.
Choose Window > Swatch Libraries > Other Library > Presets > Gradients > Metals.ai and click Open. The Metals gradient palette will open in your file. In the toolbox, select the Ellipse tool, and in the Metals palette, click the Blue Steel swatch for the fill. Visually center the Ellipse tool pointer in the center of the rectangle. Press Alt/Option+Shift and draw a circle about one-half the width of the rectangle.
