Article : Understanding Your Illustrator Better - Gradient Tool (part 2)

Chapter 2

Hi there. This is the second chapter about Gradient Tool. We'll talked more about this magnificent tool and how to apply it in you design works. 

In the previous chapter we have talked about the introduction and some other stuff. So lets dig deeper :).

So I'm gonna talked about how to play with attribute of Gradient Tool which you can get on Floating tool bar.

If you select Gradient Tool, You'll notice when you move your pointer to that image, the image will show some option. So you can change the position of the gradient right or left directly from the image or via floating toolbar.

To rotate you can change the angle via floating toolbar or directly from your image. Just move your mouse pointer near the square point until you cursor change to rotating symbol. Than you can easily rotate it.

This slider also can be moved or dragged to add the length. So you can manipulate this gradient related to your design.

One point (circle) to moved the slider to a new position.

The other point (square) can be dragged to add the length of this slider.




If you see  previous article, you find there is option of Angle and Aspect Ratio. Angle is to create angle of the gradient. Aspect Ratio is only works on Radial Gradient to create more ellipse Radial Gradient or more Circle. You'll have a better understanding perhaps after see the pictures below.

After know how to apply gradient to your basic image, and see some attribute you can customize, let see how to create a color full gradient which you cal fill to your design. Also we'll see the different between gradient on FILL and STROKE.

To add or to change the color of your gradient, we will play with the Gradient Slider on your floating tool bar. That is the place where all the magic happen.

On previous "story" you notice that there is only two colors. White on the left, and Black on the right. That is the default gradient color. To change just double click the Slider than a color option will show where you can pick the color you want.

This option is both works for Radial Gradient and Linear Gradient. All the option same with the previous.

A Stroke also can be give a gradient color. This only works for the latest version of Illustrator. To give a stroke a gradient, we need to select Stroke on the Gradient Floating tool and change the gradient exactly the same way from previous.

You'll notice the stoke additional option will be active, try to change between three of the option to see what happen.

Linear and Radial Also works for the Stroke Gradien.


After done all the changes, we can save the gradient. Just Click and Drag that gradient color you've create to Swatch Panel. Done! Now you can use the gradient over and over again.

Okay. That it for now. Hope you'll like this article. see you soon.