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
Canvas 8 Help: Inks: colors and patterns (21 of 30)                                                 Page #323