- Starting the lesson
- Working with gradients
- Working with blended objects
- Creating patterns
- Review questions
- Review answers
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Working with gradients
A gradient fill is a graduated blend of two or more colors, and it always includes a starting color and an ending color. You can create different types of gradient fills in Illustrator, including linear, in which the beginning color blends into the ending color along a line; radial, in which the beginning color radiates outward, from the center point to the ending color; and freeform, where you can create a graduated blend of color stops within a shape in an ordered or random sequence such that the blending appears smooth and as natural color. You can use the gradients provided with Adobe Illustrator CC or create your own gradients and save them as swatches for later use.
NOTE
As of the writing of this book, you cannot save freeform gradients as a swatch for later use.
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You can apply, create, and modify gradients with the Gradient panel (Window > Gradient) or the Gradient tool (
) in the Tools panel. In the Gradient panel, the Gradient Fill box or Stroke box displays the current gradient colors and gradient type applied to the fill or stroke of an object.
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Gradient
Fill box/ Stroke box
Reverse Gradient
Gradient midpoint
Gradient slider
Color stop
Color Picker
Gradient type
Edit Gradient
Stroke gradient type
Angle
Aspect ratio
Delete Stop
Opacity
Location
NOTE
The Gradient panel you see won’t match the figure, and that’s okay.
In the Gradient panel under the gradient slider (labeled “E” in the previous figure), the leftmost gradient stop (labeled “F”) is called a color stop. This marks the starting color; the right gradient stop marks the ending color. A color stop is the point at which a gradient has changed from one color to the next. You can add more color stops by clicking below the gradient slider. Double-clicking a color stop opens a panel where you can choose a color from swatches or color sliders.
Applying a linear gradient to a fill
With the simplest, two-color linear gradient, the starting color (leftmost color stop) blends into the ending color (rightmost color stop) along a straight line. To begin the lesson, you’ll apply a gradient fill that comes with Illustrator to the yellow shape.
With the Selection tool (
) selected, click the small yellow jellyfish shape.Click the Fill color (
) in the Properties panel, click the Swatches button (
), and select the gradient swatch named “White, Black.” Leave the swatches showing.The default black-and-white gradient is applied to the fill of the selected shape.
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Editing a gradient
Next, you’ll edit the colors in the default black and white gradient you applied.
Click the Fill color in the Properties panel again to show the swatches, if it’s not still showing. Click the Gradient Options button at the bottom of the panel to open the Gradient panel (Window > Gradient), and perform the following:
Double-click the black color stop on the right side of the gradient slider to edit the color in the Gradient panel (circled in the figure). In the panel that appears, click the Color button (
) to open the Color panel.Click the menu icon (
), and choose CMYK from the menu, if CMYK values aren’t showing.Change the CMYK values to C=1, M=97, Y=21, and K=0.
TIPTo move between text fields, press the Tab key. Press Enter or Return to apply the last value typed.
Click in a blank area of the Gradient panel to hide the Swatches panel.
NOTEYou can press the Escape key to hide panels, but be careful. If you press the Escape key in this case, the K value may revert to the previous value.
In the Gradient panel, perform the following:
Make sure that the Fill box is selected (circled in the figure) so that you’ll edit the fill color and not the stroke color.
Double-click the white, leftmost gradient stop to select the starting color of the gradient (an arrow is pointing to it in the figure).
Click the Swatches button (
) in the panel that appears.Click to select the dark purple swatch named “Dark purple.”
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Saving a gradient
Next, you’ll save the gradient as a swatch in the Swatches panel. Saving a gradient is a great way to be able to apply it to other artwork easily and maintain consistency in the gradient appearance.
In the Gradient panel, click the Gradient menu arrow (
) to the left of the word “Type,” and click the Add To Swatches button (
)at the bottom of the panel that appears.The Gradient menu you just saw lists all the default and saved gradients that you can apply.
TIPLike most things in Illustrator, there is more than one method for saving a gradient swatch. You can also save a gradient by selecting an object with a gradient fill or stroke, clicking the Fill box or Stroke box in the Swatches panel (whichever the gradient is applied to), and then clicking the New Swatch button (
) at the bottom of the Swatches panel.Click the X at the top of the Gradient panel to close it.
With the jellyfish shape still selected, click the Fill color in the Properties panel. With the Swatches option (
) selected, double-click the “New Gradient Swatch 1” thumbnail to open the Swatch Options dialog box.In the Swatch Options dialog box, type Jelly 1 in the Swatch Name field and then click OK.
Click the Show Swatch Kinds Menu button (
) at the bottom of the Swatches panel, and choose Show Gradient Swatches from the menu to display only gradient swatches in the Swatches panel.The Swatches panel lets you sort colors based on type, like gradient swatches.
With the shape still selected on the artboard, apply some of the different gradients to the shape fill by selecting them in the Swatches panel.
Click the gradient named “Jelly1” (the one you just saved) in the Swatches panel to make sure it’s applied before continuing to the next step.
Click the Show Swatch Kinds Menu button (
) at the bottom of the Swatches panel, and choose Show All Swatches from the menu.Choose File > Save, and leave the shape selected.
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Adjusting a linear gradient fill
Once you have painted an object with a gradient, you can adjust the direction, the origin, and the beginning and end points of the gradient applied to the artwork, using the Gradient tool. Now you’ll adjust the gradient fill in the same shape.
With the Selection tool (
) selected, double-click the shape to isolate it.This is a great way to enter Isolation mode for a single shape so you can focus on it without the other content (in this case) on top of it.
Choose View > Zoom In several times.
Click the Edit Gradient button in the Properties panel.
This selects the Gradient tool (
) in the Tools panel and enters a Gradient Editing mode. With the Gradient tool, you can apply a gradient to the fill of an object or edit an existing gradient fill. Notice the horizontal gradient slider that appears in the middle of the shape, much like the one found in the Gradient panel. The slider indicates the direction and duration of the gradient. You can use the gradient slider on the art to edit the gradient without opening the Gradient panel. The two color circles on either end represent the color stops. The smaller circle on the left shows the starting point of the gradient (the first color stop), and the smaller square on the right is the ending point (the last color stop). The diamond you see in the middle of the slider is the midpoint of the gradient. TIPYou can hide the gradient annotator (bar) by choosing View > Hide Gradient Annotator. To show it again, choose View > Show Gradient Annotator.
With the Gradient tool selected, drag from the bottom of the shape up, to the top of the shape to change the position and direction of the starting and ending colors of the gradient.
Where you begin dragging is where the first color starts and where you end is where the last color stops. As you drag, adjusting the gradient shows a live preview in the object.
With the Gradient tool, move the pointer just off the small black square at the top of the gradient annotator. A rotation icon (
) appears. Drag to the right to rotate the gradient in the rectangle and then release the mouse button.Double-click the Gradient tool in the Tools panel to open the Gradient panel (if it isn’t already open). Ensure that the Fill box is selected in the panel (circled in the figure) and then change the Angle value to 80. Press Return or Enter.
NOTEEntering the gradient rotation in the Gradient panel, rather than adjusting it directly on the artboard, is useful when you want to achieve consistency and precision.
Choose Object > Lock > Selection to lock the shape so you don’t accidentally move it later and to make selecting other artwork easier.
Select the Selection tool, and press the Escape key to exit Isolation mode. You should be able to select other artwork again.
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Applying a linear gradient to a stroke
You can also apply a gradient blend to the stroke of an object. Unlike a gradient applied to the fill of an object, you cannot use the Gradient tool to edit a gradient on the stroke of an object. A gradient on a stroke, however, has more options available in the Gradient panel than a gradient fill. Next, you’ll add colors to a stroke to create some seaweed.
TIP
Curious how the light orange path is tapered on the ends? I drew a path with the Pencil tool and then applied a variable width profile in the Control panel (Window > Control)!
Choose View > Fit Artboard In Window.
With the Selection tool (
) selected, click the light orange squiggly path in the lower-right corner to select that path.You’ll make this simple path into seaweed that looks something like the purple squiggly path in front of it.
Click the Stroke box at the bottom of the Tools panel, and click the Gradient box below the Stroke box to apply the last used gradient.
NOTEDepending on the resolution of your screen, you may see a double-column Tools panel.
NOTEThe Color panel group may open. If it does, you can close it.
Press Command and + (macOS) or Ctrl and + (Windows) a few times to zoom in.
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Editing a gradient on a stroke
For a gradient applied to a stroke, you can choose how to align the gradient to the stroke: within, along, or across. In this section, you’ll explore how to align a gradient to the stroke and also edit the colors of the gradient.
In the Gradient panel (Window > Gradient), click the Stroke box (if not already selected; it’s circled in the figure) to edit the gradient applied to the stroke. Leave Type as Linear Gradient (circled in the figure), and click the Apply Gradient Across Stroke button (
)to change the gradient type. NOTEYou can apply a gradient to a stroke in three ways: within a stroke (default) (
), along a stroke (
), and across a stroke (
).Move the pointer below the gradient slider, between the two color stops, in the Gradient panel. When the pointer with a plus sign (
) appears, click to add another color stop like you see in the first part of the following figure.Double-click that new color stop and, with the swatches selected (
), click the swatch named “Pink.” Press the Escape key to hide the swatches and return to the Gradient panel.With the color stop still selected (you can tell it’s selected because it has a blue highlight around it), change Location to 50%.
You could have also dragged the color stop along the gradient slider to change the Location value.
For the next few steps, you’ll discover how to add a new color to the gradient by dragging to create a copy of a color stop in the Gradient panel.
Pressing the Option (macOS) or Alt (Windows) key, drag the darker color stop on the far left end to the right; release the mouse button when you see roughly 90% in the Location value and then release the modifier key.
TIPWhen copying a color stop by pressing Option or Alt, if you release the mouse button on top of another color stop, you’ll swap the two color stops instead of creating a duplicate.
NOTEThe second part of the figure shows dragging the color stop, before releasing the mouse button and then the key.
There are now four color stops. Next you’ll see how to remove a color stop.
Drag the lighter color stop on the far right down, away from the gradient slider When you see that it’s gone from the slider, release the mouse to remove it.
Double-click the new color stop, and with the Swatches option selected, select the Light pink color to apply it.
Click the X at the top of the Gradient panel to close it.
Choose File > Save.
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Applying a radial gradient to artwork
As previously noted, with a radial gradient, the starting color (leftmost color stop) of the gradient defines the center point of the fill, which radiates outward to the ending color (rightmost color stop). Next, you’ll create and apply a radial gradient fill to a shape to the large rectangle in the background.
Choose View > Fit Artboard In Window.
With the Selection tool (
) selected, click the pink shape in the background.Make sure the Fill box is selected toward the bottom of the Tools panel.
Change the fill color to the White, Black gradient in the Properties panel. Press the Escape key to hide the Swatches panel.
Click the Radial Gradient button in the Properties panel to convert the linear gradient to a radial gradient.
NOTEThe Fill box needs to be selected in the Tools panel to see the Gradient options in the Properties panel. You can also click the Gradient Options button in the Swatches panel to open the Gradient panel and change the gradient type.
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Editing the colors in the radial gradient
Previously in this lesson, you edited gradient colors in the Gradient panel. You can also edit the colors in a gradient using the Gradient tool right on the artwork, which is what you’ll do next.
Double-click the Gradient tool (
) in the Tools panel to select the tool and also open the Gradient panel.In the Gradient panel, with the rectangle still selected, click the Reverse Gradient button (
) to swap the white and black colors in the gradient.Move the pointer over the gradient slider in the ellipse, and perform the following:
NOTEYou may need to move the Gradient panel out of the way.
Double-click the black color stop in the center of the ellipse to edit the color (it’s circled in the following figure).
In the panel that appears, click the Swatches button (
), if it’s not already selected.Select the swatch named “Light blue.”
Notice that the gradient slider starts from the center of the ellipse and points to the right. The dashed circle around the gradient slider indicates that it is a radial gradient. You can set additional options for radial gradients, as you’ll soon see.
Press Escape to hide the panel.
Move the pointer beneath the gradient slider, in the middle. When the pointer with a plus sign (
) appears, click to add another color to the gradient (see the first part of the following figure).Double-click the new color stop. In the panel that appears, make sure that the Swatches option is selected, and select the swatch named “Dark blue.”
TIPWhen you edit a color stop that has a swatch applied, you can easily see which swatch is applied because it is highlighted in the panel.
Change Location to 45%. Press Enter or Return to change the value and hide the panel.
Double-click the white color stop on the far right. In the panel that appears, make sure that the Swatches option is selected, and select the swatch named “Dark blue.”
Press the Escape key to hide the panel.
Choose File > Save.
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Adjusting the radial gradient
Next, you’ll change the aspect ratio of the radial gradient and change the radius and the origin of the radial gradient.
With the Gradient tool (
) selected and the rectangle still selected, move the pointer near the upper-left corner of the artboard. Drag toward the lower-right corner of the artboard to change the gradient in the rectangle.Move the pointer over the gradient slider on the artwork so you can see the dashed circle around the gradient. Press Command and - (macOS) or Ctrl and - (Windows) a few times to zoom out so you can see the entire dashed circle.
NOTEAfter zooming out, you may need to move the pointer back over the gradient slider to see the dashed circle.
Move the pointer over the double-circle on the dashed circle (see the first part of the following figure). When the pointer changes (
), drag toward the center of the artboard a little. Release the mouse button to shorten the gradient.In the Gradient panel, ensure that the Fill box is selected and then change the Aspect Ratio (
) to 80% by selecting it from the menu. Move the pointer over the gradient slider to see the dashed circle again. Leave the Gradient panel open.The aspect ratio changes a radial gradient into an elliptical gradient and makes the gradient better match the shape of the artwork. Another way to edit the aspect ratio is to do so visually. If you move the pointer over the gradient on the selected artwork with the Gradient tool selected and then move the pointer over the black circle that appears on the dotted path, the pointer changes to
. You can then drag to change the aspect ratio of the gradient. TIPYou can also drag the gradient slider to reposition the gradient in the ellipse.
TIPYou can drag the small dot to the left of the larger dot in the center of the gradient to reposition the center of the gradient without moving the entire gradient bar.
NOTEThe aspect ratio is a value between 0.5% and 32,767%. As the aspect ratio gets smaller, the ellipse flattens and widens.
Choose View > Fit Artboard In Window.
Choose Select > Deselect and then choose File > Save.
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Applying gradients to multiple objects
You can apply a gradient to multiple objects by selecting all the objects, applying a gradient color, and then dragging across the objects with the Gradient tool.
Now you’ll apply a linear gradient fill to the seaweed shapes.
With the Selection tool (
) selected, click the purple seaweed artwork in the lower-left corner (an arrow is pointing to it in the following figure).To select all objects with that same purple color fill, choose Select > Same > Fill Color.
Click the Fill color in the Properties panel. In the panel that appears, make sure the Swatches button (
) is selected, and select the Plant gradient swatch.Select the Gradient tool (
) in the Tools panel.You can see that every object now has the gradient fill applied separately. With the Gradient tool selected, you can see that each object has its own annotator bar.
Drag from the upper-right corner of the artboard to the lower-left corner.
Dragging across multiple shapes with the Gradient tool allows you to apply a gradient across those shapes.
With the shapes still selected, change the Opacity value in the Properties panel to 30%.
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Adding transparency to gradients
By specifying varying opacity values for the different color stops in your gradient, you can create gradients that fade in or out and that show or hide underlying artwork. Next you’ll apply a gradient that fades to transparent on the jellyfish shape.
Select the Selection tool (
), and click to select the green shape in the design.In the Gradient panel, ensure that the Fill box is selected. Click the Gradient menu arrow (
) and then select White, Black to apply the generic gradient to the fill.Select the Gradient tool (
) in the Tools panel, and drag from the top edge of the shape down to just past the bottom edge at a slight angle.With the pointer over the shape, doubleclick the black color stop at the bottom. Make sure the Swatches button (
) is selected, and then select the color named “Light blue” from the swatches. Choose 0% from the Opacity menu. Press Return or Enter to hide the swatches.Double-click the white color stop on the other end of the gradient slider. Select the color named “Light blue” from the swatches. Choose 70% from the Opacity menu. Press Return or Enter to hide the swatches.
Drag the bottom blue color stop up to shorten the gradient a little.
Drag the gradient midpoint (the diamond shape) up a little. More of the shape will become transparent.
Choose File > Save.
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Creating freeform gradients
Aside from creating linear and radial gradients, you can also create freeform gradients. Freeform gradients are made of a series of color stops that you can place anywhere within a shape. The colors blend together between the color stops to create a freeform gradient. Next, you’ll apply and edit a freeform gradient to the top of the jellyfish.
Select the Selection tool (
), and click the white shape at the top of the jellyfish to select it.Press Command and + (macOS) or Ctrl and + (Windows) a few times to zoom in.
Select the Gradient tool (
) in the Tools panel.Select the Freeform Gradient option in the Properties panel on the right.
After applying a freeform gradient, you can choose whether you’d like to use points or lines.
Ensure that the Points option is selected in the Gradient section of the Properties panel (an arrow is pointing to it in the figure).
When you apply a freeform gradient to selected content, Illustrator adds color stops to the object. The number of color stops depends on the shape and each color stop has a different solid color applied. With the Points option selected, you can add move, edit, or delete the color stops independently to change the overall gradient. You can also add other color stops, depending on your design. If you select the Lines option, you can draw the paths that color follows.
NOTEThe colors you see in your shape may be different, and that’s okay.
NOTEBy default illustrator chooses color from surrounding artwork. This is due to the preference Illustrator CC > Preferences > General > Enable Content Aware Defaults (macOS) or Edit > Preferences > General > Enable Content Aware Defaults (Windows) is on. You can deselect this option to create your own color stops.
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Editing a freeform gradient
In this section, you’ll edit the color stops in the freeform gradient.
Double-click the color stop you see in the figure to show the color options. With the swatches showing, select the Dark purple swatch to apply it.
With each of the color stops, you can drag it, double-click to edit its color, and more.
Drag the Dark purple color stop to the bottom center of the shape.
Next you’ll edit and move the other color stops.
Click in the shape near the top to add another color stop (see the first part of the following figure).
Double-click the new color stop, and change the color to the Yellow swatch.
The dark purple area of the gradient needs to be bigger or more spread out. To do that, you can adjust the spread of the color.
Move the pointer over the Dark purple color stop at the bottom of the shape. When you see the dotted circle appear, drag the widget at the bottom of the circle away from the color stop. The dark purple color will appear to “spread” further away from the color stop.
Click in the shape to add a new color stop (see the figure for the position). Double-click the new color stop you just added, and change the color to the Pink swatch.
Click the color stop circled in the figure. In the Gradient panel, click the Color Picker (
) to sample some color. Click in the pink area below the selected shape to sample the color and apply it to the point.
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Applying color stops in a line
Aside from adding gradient stops, you can also create gradient color stops in a line to shade the area around the line you’ve drawn using the Gradient tool.
With the Gradient tool still selected, drag the color stop you see below to the left side of the shape.
Double-click the color stop to show the color options. With the swatches option selected, click to apply the swatch named “Purple.”
Select Lines in the Gradient panel to be able to draw a gradient along a path.
Click the purple color stop you just changed the color of, so you can start drawing from that point.
With the color stop still selected, move the pointer into the center of the shape, and you’ll see the path preview. Click to create a new color stop. Double-click the new color stop, and ensure that the Purple swatch is applied.
NOTEThe first part of the following figure shows before clicking to add the next color stop.
Click to make a final color stop to the right and towards the bottom of the shape. It should already be purple.
Drag the middle color stop up and to the left a little to see the effect on the gradient.
Close the Gradient panel.
Choose Select > Deselect.
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