Illustrator gradient fill

[cjoe]

i've never needed to do this before. i'm tired, so i haven't really thought about it, or why it should be impossible, but in illustrator CS can you set a gradient fill to go from color x to completely transparent i.e. from 100 to 0 percent opacity? if so how?

Edit: i just figured it out. No need to panic.


Heres how: (very rough and ready, this is how i did it by mucking around. feel free to share how to make this much easier)

1. Make a copy of the object (the one with the gradient)
2. Create opacity mask of object. The original goes clear, to my horror.
3. Put the copy of the object into the mask
4. Invert the mask
5. Make sure your mask shows all of the original object

[Bear]

create a solid of your colour.
copy the solid and paste in front. (apple+f or ctrl+f)
apply a black to white gradient to the front solid
select both objects
go to the transparency toolbox and click the little black arrow and select make opacity mask.
if you want to edit your opacity mask, select the right hand (mask) image from the two in the transparency toolbox (where there's two previews of your shapes when you have them selected with a little chain between them) remember to click the other shape on the left when you're done to exit mask edit mode

hope this helps

[cjoe]

thanks for that mate. I must have just missed your reply.

[Bear]

haha, yeah just after i finished typing it your edit popped up.

[snakeyes]

Perfect, just what I was looking for thanks guys.

[CkretAjint]

Taken from this (http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=444357) thread...

...and for the reading impaired:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2111/1617701528_d2c7640767_o.png

Have your circle a solid color, put a black and white gradient shape over top of it. Select both shape and garident (make sure gradient it on top!!!) Go to you Tranparency palatte and click on the drop down options and select "Make Opacity Mask". and BOOM! your all done...


^ how I do it in CS3.

[Danger_Mouse]

^nice fast tut Ckret

As a an extra FYI, you can also make opacity masks from gradient mesh created gradients.

When I use to work for a sport jersey manufacturer we would sometimes have banding issues with custom colored gradients. I found using the gradient mesh with opacity masks gave much smoother gradients than the gradient tool. But once you flattened, color control went out the window.

So I would take the illy created gradient mesh with opacity masks and open in PS and make into hi res bitmaps (thus allowing color control). It took some tweaking, but the bitmap made for some sexy ass "gradients". Keep in mind I was working with fabric and had access to print room for test. Not really helping your issue...just an FYI

*Edit: the bitmaps were of course one color, but if you got creative, you could superimpose other bitmaps to create blends.

[CkretAjint]

As a an extra FYI, you can also make opacity masks from gradient mesh created gradients.

I had no idea! I'll have to play around with this later!!! It had never occured to me to try and use the mesh tool. DOH! :o

[Danger_Mouse]

^yeah its great, you just remember to flatten and there may be unexpected color results. Call your printer of course...better yet, just call PrintDriver. :P