Recipe 1.27. Applying Preset and Custom Gradients

Problem

You want to create a gradient.

Solution

Choose one of the gradient presets or mix a custom gradient using the Color Mixer panel.

Discussion

Gradients are a powerful and flexible graphic effect used in a variety of different ways, including pseudo-3D effects, mask effects, and more. You can apply one of Flash's preset gradients or mix your own.

Flash gradients come in two varieties: linear and radial. Every gradient contains a spectrum of colors. A linear gradient plots the spectrum across a fill in a simple left-to-right manner; the left side of the shape is mapped to the left side of the gradient spectrum, and the right side of the shape is mapped to the right side of the gradient spectrum. Colors are stretched or squeezed, as necessary, to fill the shape. A radial gradient, in contrast, plots the spectrum in a circular pattern, from the center of a shape (the left side of the gradient spectrum) to its outer edge (the right side of the gradient spectrum).

With the default color swatches active (see Recipe 1.26 to restore the default color palette), you can access Flash's preset gradients from the bottom of the color pop up, which appears whenever you click the Fill color box in the Tools panel or the Property inspector. To apply a gradient fill, select any closed line or shape or activate any shape tool that can add a fill (such as the Oval and Rectangle tools), and choose the desired gradient from the color pop up.

Gradients could previously be applied only as fills, not as lines. However, in Flash 8, it is possible to apply gradients to lines as well. To do so, select the gradient before drawing the line. Or, if you want to apply the gradient to an existing line, select the line, and select the gradient from the color pop up or in the Color Mixer panel.

If the built-in gradients don't meet your needs, you can mix your own in the Color Mixer panel. To mix a custom gradient, follow these steps:

1. Open the Color Mixer panel (Window Color Mixer).

2. Use the Gradient Definition Bar to specify the gradient's spectrum. Beneath the spectrum are Gradient Pointers. Each one contains a single color. Between every pair of Gradient Pointers, Flash blends the color of one into the color of the other.

   • To change a Gradient Pointer's color, click to select it, and click the Fill color box to the left of the Style menu. Select a color or mix your own using the system color picker.

   • To add an additional color to the gradient, add another Gradient Pointer: click anywhere in the Gradient Definition Bar (or just below it) between the colors where you want it to appear. As you hover your mouse over the area, a + sign appears beside the mouse cursor.

   • To make a given blend segment more or less gradual, drag the Gradient Pointers left or right. As you do, Flash automatically adjusts the blending of the two colors.

   As you mix the gradient, a preview appears in the Gradient Sample box.

You can save a custom gradient for future use by making it into a swatch. After you've mixed a gradient, open the Color Mixer Options menu, and choose Add Swatch. Flash adds the custom gradient to the Fill color pop up, and makes it available from the Tools panel, Property inspector, or Color Mixer any time a fill (or a tool that creates one) is selected.

See Also

Recipe 1.28