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You are here: Experts > Computing/Technology > Graphics Software > Adobe Illustrator > gradient color to transparent
Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 11/9/2009
Question
QUESTION: I am fairly new to CS3 and need to know probably in more detail than most people how to do a gradient going from white at the bottom to transparent at the top. I tried following Tom Rouse's instructions for a similar question but it did not work - it just did a solid white fill. This us not for a homework assignment - I am self-employed and need help.
ANSWER: Hi Signe,
First select the gradient tool (type "G" on your keyboard to jump to it). Then select white as your foreground color (you can type "D" for default b&w and then "X" to flip white to the foreground).
At the top of your window, below the menu you will see the options bar. This will have a gradient pulldown on the top left corner, click and select the "Foreground to transparent" swatch.
Then taking your gradient tool, click at the top of your image and drag, while holding down, to the bottom and release the mouse. If this is backwards from your desired result, undo, and go from the bottom up.
If you want to do this non-destructively, create a blank layer first then apply the gradient to this layer.
Thanks
Kevin
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Kevin,
Thank you so much for the answer yesterday, however I need some clarification. I cannot find the gradient pull-down in the top left corner on the options bar below the menu, in order to select the "foreground to transparent" swatch. Do I have to activate it?
Signe
ANSWER: Hi Signe,
I did not realize that this was for Adobe Illustrator, and I gave you an answer for Photoshop.
To create your color to transparent gradient in Illustrator, you first need to create your filled object. Then create another object and fill this with a black and white gradient. Place this on top of the first object.
Select the two objects and go to window>transparency and open the transparency palette. Then go to the palette menu and choose "make opacity mask". This will merge the two objects into one and you will have an object filled with a transparent gradient.
Thanks
Kevin
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Kevin,
This granny is quite a klutz at many things computer, hence needing to ask another question or better yet explain more clearly what it is I am trying to do.
I have made a cross with a woodgrain fill. I had to do it in CorelDRAW since I could not get a woodgrain effect in Illustrator. I saved it as an Ai file then brought it into my illustrator document. I have copied that cross onto another layer, remove the fill, and left the outline intact. This outline object is what I need to fill with a white gradient starting from the bottom fadaing to NO COLOR at the top. When the gradient object is placed directly over the woodgain cross it would give the appearance that the bottom of the woodgrain cross is enshrouded in a heavy white mist, disipating to no mist about half way up with the woodgrain of the cross showing at the top as well as being visible gradiently through the disipating mist. This graphic will be placed on a dark gradient background going dark to light, bottom to top.
I hope this helps you to help me.
Signe
Answer
Signe,
What you are trying to do is very advanced in Adobe Illustrator and would be better if you did it in Adobe Photoshop. Illustrator does not do a good job at gradients, even worse with transparency. I wish I could explain this perfectly for you, but I would highly suggest you try this in Photoshop.
Sorry
Kevin
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