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- <h2>Gradient Tool</h2>
- <p>The Gradient Tool allows you to draw gradients in several formats. With
- its transparency mode, you can also "fade" or "blend" two images together.</p>
- <h3>Gradient Types</h3>
- <p>Each gradient type can be chosen from the <a href="Toolbar.html#Gradient">
- Gradient section of the toolbar</a>:</p>
- <blockquote>
- <p>
- <img border="0" src="Images/Toolbar_GradientTool.png" width="382" height="72"></p>
- </blockquote>
- <p>The first column of gradients below shows how the gradient looks when
- drawn in Color mode with two opaque colors (alpha value of 255). </p>
- <p>The second column shows the effect of drawing a gradient with the
- Transparency Mode on the following image:</p>
- <blockquote>
- <p><img border="1" src="../images/Camaro_160.jpg"></p>
- </blockquote>
- <ul>
- <li>Linear<br>
- <img border="1" src="../images/Gradient_Linear.png">
- <img border="1" src="../images/Gradient_Alpha_Linear.jpg"><br>
- </li>
- <li>Linear (Reflected)<br>
- <img border="1" src="../images/Gradient_LinearReflected.png">
- <img border="1" src="../images/Gradient_Alpha_LinearReflected.jpg" width="160" height="100"> <br>
- </li>
- <li>Diamond<br>
- <img border="1" src="../images/Gradient_Diamond.png">
- <img border="1" src="../images/Gradient_Alpha_Diamond.jpg" width="160" height="100"><br>
- </li>
- <li>Radial<br>
- <img border="1" src="../images/Gradient_Radial.png">
- <img border="1" src="../images/Gradient_Alpha_Radial.jpg" width="160" height="100"><br>
- </li>
- <li>Conical<br>
- <img border="1" src="../images/Gradient_Conical.png">
- <img border="1" src="../images/Gradient_Alpha_Conical.jpg" width="160" height="100"></li>
- </ul>
- <h3>Drawing a Gradient</h3>
- <p>To draw a gradient, simply click and drag on the canvas as if you were
- drawing a line. The gradient will be drawn as you move the mouse which
- should let you quickly figure out the placement for the gradient you want to
- draw. After you release the mouse button, you will be able to adjust the
- gradient control points by moving the circular nubs. Right-clicking on a nub
- will swap the roles of the primary and secondary colors. If you move a nub
- while holding both mouse buttons, then both nubs will be moved.</p>
- <h3>Color Mode</h3>
- <p>The default type of gradient is a color gradient that affects all color
- channels and the alpha channel. The gradient will be drawn such that it
- fades from the primary color to the secondary color. If you use the right
- mouse button, then the roles of the primary and secondary colors will be
- reversed. The gradients in the first column above were drawn using the
- default colors of black and white.</p>
- <h3>Transparency Mode ("Fading" / "Blending")</h3>
- <p>The special transparency mode can be used to fade out part of an image.
- This can also be quite useful for blending two images together. To access
- this mode, click on the button that controls the Gradient mode in the
- toolbar and select Transparency Mode:</p>
- <blockquote>
- <p><img border="0" src="Images/Toolbar_GradientTool2.png"></p>
- </blockquote>
- <p>This type of gradient will only affect the alpha channel of the current
- layer. The gradient will fade <i>from</i> the alpha value of the primary
- color <i>to </i>the inverse of the alpha value of the secondary color. If
- you use the right mouse button, then the gradient will fade <i>from </i>the
- inverse of the alpha value of the secondary color <i>to </i>the alpha value
- of the primary color. To put it more simply, treat transparency gradients as
- always fading from opaque (255 alpha) to transparent (0 alpha).</p>
- <p>To do a "fade" or "blend", place the two images on separate layers, and
- then use a transparency gradient on the top layer.</p>
- <p>As an example, using the two-layer discussed in Layers and Blend Modes,
- the following cross-faded image can be easily created by drawing a
- transparency gradient from left to right on the layer with the picture of
- Seattle:</p>
- <blockquote>
- <p><img border="1" src="../images/Gradient_CrossFade.jpg"></p>
- </blockquote>
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- <font color="#808080" size="1">Copyright <font face="Times New Roman">© 2007 </font>
- Rick Brewster, Tom Jackson, and past contributors. Portions Copyright
- <font face="Times New Roman">© 2007 </font>Microsoft Corporation. All Rights
- Reserved.</font><font size="1"> <br>
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