Introduction to Flash MX Tutorial > Define properties for a new document and create a gradient background > Transform the gradient fill |  |

Transform the gradient fill

When you transform an object, you rotate, scale, or skew it. You can transform a fill using the Fill Transform tool.

1 | In the toolbox, select the Fill Transform tool. On the Stage, click anywhere inside the rectangle.
| An ellipse that indicates the shape and location of the gradient appears around the Stage. The ellipse has controls for the location, width, scale, and rotation of the radial gradient.
2 | Drag the center control to the left of the Stage so that it's approximately 1/3 of the distance from the left edge of the Stage, as shown in the following illustration.
| As you change the shape and placement of the ellipse, the shape and placement of the color transitions on the Stage change accordingly.
3 | Drag the square handle on the ellipse, which controls gradient width, to the left to make the ellipse narrower; the approximate shape of the ellipse is shown in the following illustration.
4 | Drag the circular middle handle, which controls the size of the gradient, to the right to make the ellipse larger, as shown in the following illustration.
5 | Drag the bottom circular handle, which controls the rotation of the ellipse, toward the left to rotate the ellipse to the approximate angle shown in the following illustration.