Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Using the Gradient Annotator in conjunction with the Gradient tool, in many
instances you'll be able to customize gradients without having to use the Gradient
panel at all. In this illustration, Dave Joly only needed the Gradient panel to switch
between Linear and Radial gradients, and to work with creating unified gradients. To
control the colors, length, and angle of gradients for individual objects, Joly adjusted
each gradient with the Gradient Annotator. He unified gradients across multiple
objects using the Gradient tool and Gradient panel.
1 Applying gradients.
To apply a gradient to a single object, such as the fish's body,
Joly first made sure that the Gradient Annotator toggle was visible (if View> Show
Gradient Annotator is available, choose it). Next he selected an object and the Gradi-
ent tool, and then clicked once on the object to fill it with either the document's de-
fault gradient (for the first object) or with the last gradient used in the document.
1
Working with the Gradient panel, Gradient tool, and Gradient An-
notator
2 Editing single objects with the Gradient Annotator.
Joly was able to edit a gradient al-
most exclusively using the Gradient Annotator. With the Annotator, he could modify
the gradient length, angle, and colors on the object itself. He only needed to turn to
the Gradient panel to choose a different existing gradient swatch, switch the current
gradient between linear and radial gradient in Type, or reverse the gradient. Joly be-
gan his edits by moving his cursor just beyond the arrow endpoint of the Gradient
Annotator. When his cursor turned into the Rotate icon, he dragged to interactively
set the angle he wanted the gradient to take. With his cursor directly on top of the ar-
row end, he click-dragged to lengthen or shorten the gradient, and he dragged on the
large circle at the other end to move the whole gradient to another position over the
object. To adjust the colors, Joly double-clicked on a color stop along the Annotator,
which gave him immediate access to proxies for both the Swatches and the Color
panels, and a subset of the Gradient panel, as well. After choosing a suitable color, he
dragged the stops on the Annotator to position the color blends more precisely, and
on the gradient sliders to adjust their blend.
