|
||||||
|
Drawing: Using Gradients
207 Drawing
Flash Compatibility: Flash
8 (Also works in Flash MX04/MX)
Written by: Andrei Doubrovski from: Meet the Flash
Editor: Phil Schulz
Length: 600 words
Assumed Knowledge: Minimal knowledge of Flash
Difficulty: Easy
Free
Flash Tutorial
In Flash you use Gradient fills to make natural color transitions and imitate the play of shadow and light. The ready-made Gradients from the Color Swatches can solve some of these tasks but in this tutorial you will also learn how to customize Gradients to achieve much better effects.
Cross Ref: Flash Drawing Tutorials 201 to 209 are a consecutive series and you may want to start from the beginning: Pencil Tool
Step One: Using the Color Mixer to Edit Gradients
A Gradient Filled Shape is selected.
Note: Look at the Color Mixer - it displays the selected Gradient's settings:
Gradient Settings.
Note: This will open the pop-up Swatches Panel:
Swatches Panel.
Note: After selecting a new color the Gradient appearance will change:
Note: That while pop-up Swatches are open you may click virtually anywhere on your screen to find a suitable color.
Done.
New Selection.
Note: By moving the color swatches you redistribute Gradient colors. For example, move the left swatch to the right to broaden corresponding color range. Also you can swap swatches places to change the Gradient direction - left to right for linear Gradients or center to edge for radial ones.
Swatches have been moved to opposite ends.
Additional swatches create new color ranges, so you can create much more complex Gradients.
Note: To delete a color swatch just drag it down and away.
Note: A solid fill can be easily converted to a Gradient fill.
The program applies the last used Gradient parameters that can be edited as needed:
Previous Gradient Settings are applied.
![]()
New colors and swatch settings.Note: With the Color Mixer though, we can't change a Gradient's angle or fit a Gradient in an oblong shape. For this kind of work, activate the Gradient Transform Tool and click a Gradient fill you want to transform.
Step Two: Using the Gradient Transform Tool
Note the various Control Handles.
Gradient Width Gradient Size Gradient Rotation Gradient Focal Point (is the centre of gradients colour) Gradient Centre (is the centre of the space or shape that the gradient occupies) Note: Use the Control Handles to adjust the way that the Gradient looks.
Cross Ref: Go to the next in this drawing series: Next >>>
•
13870 visitors to this page since
7 Dec 06 •
|
|
Webwasp is Phil Schulz's baby. You are welcome to contact me or become my Facebook friend:
Click here
All material on this site is protected under international copyright © law. DO NOT reproduce any material from this site without written permission. Please ask as permission is often granted.
|