Working with gradients

Create and save elliptical gradients with full or partial transparency. Learn to use the interactive Gradient tool and Gradient panel.

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Requirements

To complete the tasks demonstrated in this tutorial, you need the following software and files:

Adobe Illustrator CS4

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Sample files

lrvid4017_ai.zip (ZIP, 1.2MB)

Prerequisite knowledge

Intermediate knowledge of gradients in Illustrator

Working with gradients

Gradient controls in Adobe® Illustrator® CS4 are now easier to access and apply. Illustrator CS4 also offers the ability to add transparency to gradients, as well as a new elliptical style. In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the expanded Gradient tool and controls to create gradient effects.

Working with groups

Selecting objects within groups is the first step to working with gradients. To select an object:

1. Click a group object in an Illustrator file to select the entire group.
2. To isolate an object and enter isolation mode, double-click the object.

   Note: Isolation mode is an enhanced feature of Illustrator CS4, which allows you to see the entire path of an object, from the master artboard, to the layer, to the group in which the object is contained.

   

   Figure 1: Following the document path in isolation mode
3. Click the object to make it active. A bounding box appears around the object.

Working with the Gradient tool

Although previous versions of Illustrator have a Gradient tool, the Gradient tool in Illustrator CS4 has greatly expanded editing capabilities. The first step in using the Gradient tool is to assign a gradient to an object. To assign a gradient:

1. Choose the Gradient tool from the Illustrator toolbox.

   

   Figure 2: The Gradient Tool
2. Click inside the object to apply a gradient. A bar showing the direction of the gradient appears. The color and direction of the gradient depends on the last gradient you applied.

   

   Figure 3: The Gradient bar
3. Hover over the gradient bar to access the controls. These controls allow you to edit your gradient in real time, in the context of the object to which the gradient has been applied. For example, you could move the start and end points of the gradient to different positions within the object.
4. With Illustrator CS4, you do not have to redraw a gradient to rotate it. To rotate the angle of a gradient, move the cursor slightly beyond the end point of the gradient. Drag the end point of the gradient up or down.

Changing the color of a gradient

Changing the color and tint of a gradient is greatly simplified with Illustrator CS4. To change the color of a gradient:

1. Double-click the color stop at the starting point of the gradient bar. The Gradient Color panel opens. You can use the icons on the left side of the panel to toggle between the Color panel and the Swatches panel.

   

   Figure 4: The Gradient color panel
2. To change the color of the gradient, click the Swatches panel icon. Click to select a color, such as light gray, in the Swatches panel and press the Enter key to apply the color.
3. Double-click the color stop at the end point of the gradient. Assign a color, such as dark blue, using the Swatches panel.
4. To add a color stop, hover underneath the gradient bar until the cursor turns into a plus sign, and then click.
5. Double-click the new color stop to show the Gradient Color panel and choose a new color from the Swatches panel.
6. To duplicate a color stop, press Alt/Option and drag an existing color stop to a new location.
7. To delete a color stop, drag it away from the gradient bar.
8. Change the midpoint skew between two color stops by dragging the midpoint to the left or right.

Modifying radial and elliptical gradients

In addition to rotating and modifying a linear gradient, you can also modify radial and elliptical gradients. To access radial and elliptical gradients:

1. Click the square icon on the right side of the Illustrator window. The Gradient panel opens.

   

   Figure 5: The Gradient panel
2. Choose the Gradient tool from the Illustrator toolbox See Figure 2.
3. With your gradient still selected, choose Radial from the Type menu. Radial gradients include concentric circles and ellipses. Notice that your gradient changes into a circular shape.

   

   Figure 6: Changing to a radial gradient
4. Move the cursor over the gradient area. Notice an outline appears around the area affected by the gradient.

   

   Figure 7: The radial gradient outline
5. To change the size of a radial gradient, drag the end point of the gradient bar in or out from the center of the gradient.

   

   Figure 8: Dragging the gradient bar
6. To rotate the angle of the gradient, hover over one of the transformation points of the gradient bounding area until your cursor turns into the rotation icon, and then drag clockwise or counterclockwise.
7. You can create an elliptical gradient by dragging the filled transformation point inward to compress the gradient circle. This ellipse can then be resized by dragging one of the other two transformation points in or out.

   

   Figure 9: Creating an elliptical gradient

   Tip: A handle to the inside of the gradient bar’s start point allows you to move the center of the gradient while leaving the gradient boundary alone. You can use this feature to create a ‘hot spot’ or focused highlight.

Introducing translucency into a gradient

Illustrator CS4 also allows you to introduce translucency to a gradient. To introduce translucency:

1. Double-click a color stop on the gradient bar. Click the icon to toggle open the Color panel. Reduce the opacity value by a number between 0 and 100.

   Note: Observe how this new feature simplifies the creation of rich fill interactions between stacks of objects while revealing the underlying artwork. You can also cause fills to interact within a single object.

2. Undo the last modification by pressing Ctrl/Cmd+Z.
3. Make sure the gradient-filled object is still selected and click the Appearance panel icon or choose Window > Appearance to open the Appearance panel.

   

   Figure 10: The Appearance panel
4. Click the Add New Fill icon at the bottom of the Appearance panel and using the Gradient tool, drag a new gradient across the object.
5. Note that it is possible to modify each gradient fill independently of the others by clicking the item in the Appearance panel and working with the gradient bar when the Gradient tool is selected. To hide the gradient bars, select any tool other than the Gradient tool from the Illustrator toolbox.

Where to go from here

• Illustrator CS4 Help and Support
• Learn Illustrator CS4
• Introducing Illustrator CS4, by Deke McClelland
• Working with multiple artboards, by Deke McClelland
• Working with color groups and color harmonies, by Deke McClelland
• Lynda.com

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License

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