Expert: Amy - 2/12/2004

Question
Hi,

I'm familiar with Photoshop but not too much with Illustrator. I need to convert a Photoshop file into an Illustrator file; I've done most of it but I can't figure out the gradient. The starting color is CMYK 25,11,2,1 and the end color is 1,2,4,1 and I would like to add a noise and blur effect. In Photoshop, I use a 600dpi resolution and the file is quite large. In Illustrator, the file is much smaller because it uses vectors. Can you draw a rectangle 7.5 inches wide and 4 inches high with the gradient and email it to scourcoux@hotmail.com. I really would appreciate it. I'm using Illustrator CS.

Thanks,
Sylvain.

Answer
Hi Sylvain,

It's quite easy to create that rectangle, you don't need me to do it for you.

1) Draw the rectangle

2) You'll need to display both the Gradient and Color windows so Choose Window > Show Gradient and Window > Show Color (or F9 and F6).  Use each window's top-right flyout menu to display options, if they are hidden.

3) ***With rectangle selected for all the following steps***, click on the gradient fill square in the gradient window and choose "Linear" from the menu there.

4) To adjust the colors in the gradient that's chosen, first click on the far left tab on the slider bar, which is at the bottom of the gradient window.

5) In the color window (F6), choose the color you want the left side of the gradient to be.  If CMYK colors are not shown in the Color window, you have to use its top right flyout menu to switch to CMYK.

After setting the color for the left gradient tab, click on the right gradient tab and repeat step 5 above.  

And that's about all there is to it.  You can apply a Gaussian blur to it from the Effects menu, but most effects are not available in CMYK mode.  I don't use CS yet, so I can't vouch for what's available there - maybe you will find that more artistic effects are available. I know there are some cool ones.

Good luck
Amy