Illustrator: Gradient problem

[Takayuki]

Hi guys, maybe a dumb question:
Is there any way to put gradient twice on a object, for example say first in linear >angle=90,
then another one on top of it linear>angle=0.
or, put a box type of gradient like both top and side to be affected with gradient?
I'm kind of stuck to figure out a way to do this.

[distruktor]

have you tried using gradient mesh?

[Takayuki]

Never did try a gradient mesh, but how do you work out with it, any example you can show me?

[distruktor]

do you mean how do you use it?

heres a quick example:

draw a rectangle (for arguments sake) and fill it with red... deselect it, now pick the gradient mesh tool and then pick you secondary colour, lets say yellow. now press anywhere inside the red rectangle with the gradient mesh tool, if you have done it correctly a point will appear with 4 handles that you can drag to tweak how the gradient behaves...

you can also click inside the red rectangle as many time as you like with the gradient mesh tool using the same or different secondary colours...

cool huh?


dis

[Broacher]

Be careful with gradient meshes as they really are AI objects and not 'true' postscript and must get translated into real postscript in the end. This can cause real trouble -- especially in the large media output area (PD will surely chirp in on this one), or anywhere you hand off a file that will NOT be outputted directly from AI. They may behave like vector objects in AI, but outsid of this app, they must be nailed down to a resolution as they do not scale upwards (and you'll discover they bloat the PDF and EPS files as well).

Another approach is to create a black to white gradient to cover your solid cover object, and make an opacity mask. Copy this, rotate, recolour the solid colour, edit the gradient angle-- all possible with twiddling around with the opacity mask function. It even works with spot colours and transfers nicely (via AI format) into ID.

[Takayuki]

Thanks distruktor I will try playing around with that, I hardly use them.

Broacher:
Wow, this was what I was looking for, exactly wanted to transfer from AI into ID.
Thanks, will see if it will work for me.