Working with Gradient Fills

Working with Gradient Fills

Gradient fills start with one color and then change into others. There are three types of gradients: linear, radial, and contour . In a linear gradient, the colors change along a line that can be angled in any direction. A radial gradient is circular. In a contour gradient, the color change is based on the shape of the object.

Figure 11. The three different types of gradients.

To choose the type of gradient fill:

Choose Gradient from the pop-up menu in the Fill inspector.

Click the Linear icon to see the settings for a linear gradient

Figure 12. The Fill inspector se 616k1017g t for a linear gradient.

or

Click the Radial icon to see the settings for a radial gradient

Figure 13. The Fill inspector se 616k1017g t for a radial gradient.

or

Click the Contour icon to see the settings for the contour gradient

Figure 14. The Fill inspector se 616k1017g t for a contour gradient.

Use the other Color pop-up menu to choose the color for the other end of the gradient.

To create a linear gradient fill:

With the object selected, click the Linear gradient icon in the Fill inspector

Figure 15. The Fill inspector se 616k1017g t for a linear gradient.

Click either of the color swatches to choose the colors for each end of the gradient. The pop-up color palette lets you choose a color

Figure 16. The pop-up color palette lets you choose colors for a gradient.

or

Drag a color from the Swatches panel or Color Mixer. The change between the colors is displayed in the Gradient ramp.

To add colors in between the end colors, see the exercise on page183.

Use the Angle field or rotate the wheel to set the angle for the fill.

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Changing the direction of the gradient fills creates the illusion of light reflecting off different surfaces. This creates a 3D effect

Figure 17. Different angles of linear gradients create 3D effects.

Use the Taper list to choose how fast the gradient changes.

o        Linear changes in uniform increments from one color to another.

o        Logarithmic changes more drastically from one color to another

Figure 18. The difference between a Linear taper (left) and a Logarithmic taper (right), both set to 90° angles.

FreeHand also lets you apply a linear gradient by dragging a color without using the Fill inspector and without selecting the object.

To apply a linear gradient by dragging a color:

Press the Control/Ctrl key as you drag a color swatch onto an object that has one color already applied as a Basic fill. A diamond color swatch indicates you are dragging a linear gradient onto the object

Figure 19. Hold the Control/ Ctrl key as you drag a color swatch to apply a linear gradient to an object.

Release the mouse button on the object. A linear gradient fills the object with the color of the swatch applied as the second color.

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Where you drop the swatch determines the angle of the fill.

In a radial gradient, the color starts at a center point and moves outward in a circle. A Radial gradient is like a sun radiating colors outward.

To create a radial gradient:

With the object selected, click the Radial gradient icon in the Fill inspector

Figure 20. The Fill inspector set for a radial gradient.

Choose the color for the outside of the radial fill by changing the color swatch on the left side of the ramp.

or

Drag a color from the Swatches panel or Color Mixer. The change between the colors is displayed in the Gradient ramp.

Choose the color for the inside of the radial fill by changing the color swatch on the right side of the ramp.

Drag the centerpoint control to change the position of the inside color.

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Position the centerpoint of a radial gradient off-center to create the effect of a 3D sphere

Figure 21. Move the centerpoint of a radial gradient to create a 3D effect.

To apply a radial gradient by dragging a color:

Press the Opt/Alt key as you drag a color swatch onto an object that already has one color applied as a Basic fill. A circle color swatch indicates you are dragging a radial gradient onto the object.

Release the mouse button on the object. A radial gradient fills the object with the color of the swatch applied as the second color

Figure 22. Hold the Opt/Alt key as you drag a color swatch to apply a radial gradient to an object.

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The color of the swatch is applied as the inside color of the radial gradient.

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Where you drop the swatch determines the center of the radial gradient.

To create a contour gradient:

With the object selected, click the Contour gradient icon. The settings for the contour gradient appear

Figure 23. The Fill inspector se 616k1017g t for a linear gradient.

Choose the color for the outside of the contour gradient by changing the color swatch on the left side of the ramp.

or

Drag a color from the Swatches panel or Color Mixer. The change between the colors is displayed in the Gradient ramp.

Choose the color for the inside of the contour gradient by changing the color swatch on the right side of the ramp.

Drag the centerpoint control to change the position of the inside color.

Use the Taper controls to adjust the size of the contour gradient. The higher the number, the more the gradient will fill the object

Figure 24. Adjusting the Taper control changes in how much of the object the contour gradient is sen.

To apply a contour gradient by dragging a color:

Press the Cmd-Opt key (Mac) or Control-Alt key (Win) as you drag a color swatch onto an object that has one color already applied as a Basic fill. An irregular-shaped color swatch indicates you are dragging a contour gradient onto the object.

Release the mouse button on the object. A contour gradient fills the object with the color of the swatch applied as the second color

Figure 25. Hold the Cmd-Opt key (Mac) or Control-Alt key (Win) as you drag a color swatch to apply a contour gradient to an object.

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The color of the swatch is applied as the inside color of the contour gradient.

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Where you drop the swatch determines the center of the contour gradient.

Gradient fills can contain more than one color.

To add colors to gradient fills:

Drag a color swatch onto the gray area between the top and the bottom colors . You can drag swatches from the Swatches panel, the Color Mixer, or the color boxes in the Fill inspector.

Figure 26. Drag a color swatch to add colors to a gradient.

or

Drag a color from either end color swatch.

or

Hold the Control/Alt key as you drag to copy the colors of existing color swatches.

To delete a color, drag the color box off the gray area. (You can not delete the left or right swatches of a gradient fill.)