To select and apply gradient inks, select the Gradient tab on the Inks
palette. To create and customize gradient inks, you use the Gradient
manager.
The appearance of a gradient ink depends on several factors. Gradi-
ents appear smooth on monitors that display millions of colors, but
can appear coarse and dithered on monitors that display only 256 col-
ors. The more extreme the difference in colors, the coarser a gradient
can appear. When a gradient has large color transitions, it appears
smoother in an object that is large enough to show all the transitions.
Gradient styles and editing features
Applying gradients interactively
The Gradient Vector tool lets you drag in a document to set the
shape, angle, and center of a gradient. You can use the tool to apply
gradient inks interactively to selected vector objects and text.
The Gradient Vector tool is located in the Effects toolbar.
The Gradient Vector tool applies gradients based on the settings in
the Gradient manager in the Inks palette. You can select gradient col-
ors and styles in the Gradient manager. The Gradient Vector tool
Style
Appearance and edit controls
Edit box
Radial
Colors sweep in a circle around the center. To move the center point,
drag the open dot. To set the starting angle, drag the solid dot or enter
the angle (0 to 360 degrees) in the text box.
Directional
Linear gradient in which colors blend in the direction you specify. To set
the gradient orientation, drag the solid dot, or enter an angle from 0 to
360 degrees in the text box.
Shape
Gradient conforms to basic object shapes. To move the gradient cen-
ter, drag the rectangle. To resize the center area that contains the end
color, drag the solid handle and resize the rectangle.
Rectangular
Rectangular-shaped gradient. To move the gradient center, drag the
rectangle. To resize the center area that contains the end color, drag
the solid handle and resize the rectangle.
Elliptical
Elliptical-shaped gradient. To move the gradient center, drag the oval.
To resize the center area that contains the end color, drag the solid dot
and resize the oval.
Gradient Vector tool