Gradients and blends

PROF VAUGHN: This video is going to go
over gradients, and blends in Illustrator.

As we move into color this is a really fun
and easy opportunity to create really

interesting, um, backgrounds or objects
that have some sense of form

or dimensionality.

We're gonna think about how to use
gradients.

So, a couple of examples here.

We got our basic gradients, linear and
radial, we've seen this in Photoshop.

We have an additional gradient that
we're gonna call freeform, here's an

example of a freeform gradient.

And the I'm also gonna show you
how to blend, a couple different

opportunities in blending.

We think of blend, we're gonna move
from one color to another along a

simple, um, spectrum of steps.

So, lots of opportunities here.

Let's jump right into what this might
look like.

I'm gonna delete these to get us started.

So when you're thinking of a gradient,
remember we're vector based in Illustrator

so we're always going to apply it as if
it's a color to a vector object.

I'm going to just start with a simple
shape here.

I'm going to draw out a rectangle.

Now, I've been using gradient
so it's already sort-of preset that way,

but generally, you might just be drawing
an object that has a color that has a fill

or a stroke.

I'm just going to be a stoke on here so
we can see this and imagine that really

we just have rectangle, it has a black
edge if I go to move it we'll see there's

the black edge but it doesn't have a
color fill.

So to create a gradient, the easiest
first way to get about it, is use a fill.

Remember a gradient is just a color
choice.

We have a couple gradients down here in
this sort of standard color pallete.

If you don't see those, you can always
open up this little flat window and say,

show all, or if you want to isolate it
you can say show gradient swatches.

I know mine are already there though, so.

I'm gonna just start, I'm gonna pick any
of these.

So we've got this sort of black and white
version, this orange yellow,

and this blue one.

Doesn't matter which one you pick.

We're gonna dial it in to make it custom,
once we have a gradient.

So I've got my gradient, amazing.

It's not what I want but it gets me the
opportunity to choose this button,

gradient options.

Click that, and you get this palette, so
I'm gonna make sure

I can see the entire palette.

You can even stretch it out if you want.

So here I have my gradient choices.

I am currently set on fill.

Look it, here's fill and stroke.

You can go back and fourth.

Meaning, you could actually use the
gradient as a stroke vs. the fill.

Now what we wanna do right now, I have
my type, so, here linear, we're working

along a line, very simple.

Here is radial.

Of course that's going to radiate out.

And within these sort of standard
gradients, we can change the direction.

So here are our kind of directional
forces.

If you wanted your gradient to be on an
angle, you could set it on an angle, etc.

You can also reverse the gradient here,

flipping from side to side in this case,
reversing our gradient.

If we go to 0 you'll see that, back and
fourth.

So those are both simple choices.

If you want to start to edit the colors,
we have what are called color stops,

on, a gradient slider, so double clicking
this, opens up your color palette.

If you don't like these of course you can
always use the spectrum look.

I'm going to use the swatches for now.

And I want to start with a blue, and
maybe I want to move my blue towards

a yellow.

Now I've created this kind of, custom
gradient.

Bright blue, sliding over to yellow.

These are movable, I can slide these
around, increase or decrease the amount,

of that color, this will be reflected in
your gradient object.

You also have this, little, diamond.

This is the location at which the color
is shifting in the middle, so the tone or

the value, um, between the blue or the
yellow is sort of representative here.

Do you want it to be pushed way over,
or here?

Now let's say you want more then two
colors, you just hover over the slider,

you get this little plus sign here, click
it.

You have an additional color stock.

Now double click, give yourself a new
color, maybe you're getting really wild.

That's a little bit much for me at the
moment, early in the morning here.

Uh, and now we have another color stock.

If you want to delete them, you can simply
click, oops, don't do that.

Click on it, use the trash can.

Now you've deleted that stock.

Okay, so that's lovely.

Same options apply, if you're here you can
still change the colors etc.

You, also have the ability if you've
created a gradient and you love it,

you can save it, um, so I will give you
some notes on how to save it.