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Adobe
helpx.adobe.com › illustrator › using › gradients.html
Gradient types in Illustrator
October 27, 2025 - You can even create, apply, and ... Gradient tool, or the Control panel. You can create three types of gradients in Illustrator: Linear Gradient: Use this gradient type to blend colors from one point to another in a straight line. Radial Gradient: Use this gradient type to blend colors from one point to another point in a circular pattern. Freeform Gradient: ...
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Envato Tuts+
design.tutsplus.com › home › design & illustration › theory › design trends
How to Use the Gradient Tool in Illustrator | Envato Tuts+
November 13, 2022 - Click on the link below to download it. ... Select the Gradient Tool (G) from the left toolbar. With the Gradient Tool selected, click on the shape object you want to apply the gradient to.
Discussions

gradient tool in illustrator - Graphic Design Stack Exchange
What is function of small slideballs (diamonds on the left side) in gradient tool of adobe illustrator? I understand that the perpendicular slide bars (which are also removable from gradient slide... More on graphicdesign.stackexchange.com
🌐 graphicdesign.stackexchange.com
November 18, 2018
PLEASE HELP! Gradient tool won’t work
Does the shape you are trying to use the gradient tool on have a gradient? Select a gradient swatch, or create a gradient in the gradient panel. Are you trying to modify the nonexistent gradient in the stroke of a path that has a gradient in its fill? Hit 'x' to swap between selecting/editing fill colors and stroke colors. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/AdobeIllustrator
7
3
December 7, 2020
Cannot colour gradient??
Make sure you have the "Gradient" window open (Window > Gradient). Select your artwork and apply a gradient (The b&W gradient is fine to start with). Take a look at the gradient window. You should see the current b&w gradient with two circles underneath. Click and highlight the left circle, then choose a color from the swatch panel, or make a color using the color sliders. Do the same with the right circle. You should now have a gradient showing the colors you have chosen. If you click on an area under the gradient in the "gradient" panel, third circle is made and you can add another color, thereby affecting your gradient. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/AdobeIllustrator
5
2
October 11, 2023
How do you add gradient to entire object (different colored fills) to create a shadow? Illustrator CS5. Thank you.
He has a marquee around the illustration, so the gradient affects only the contents. The gradient looks like black (or dark purple?) to transparent, multiply, 30% opacity overall. Illustrator doesn't have marquee selection, so to recreate this you would need to create an object that encompasses your drawing, such as this: https://i.imgur.com/rgjOENs.png This one is a copy of my objects, then Pathfinder > Unite. Then apply the gradient to that object. You could also simulate this with Appearances, but it's a bit more tricky to understand: https://i.imgur.com/XST9jSI.png You can add a fill to your objects at the group level. This will appear to fill them all individually, but it's just on top of their existing fills, nothing has changed. Then use Effects > Pathfinder > Add on the new fill. This simulates actually joining all the objects; they appear as if they were united, but they're still separate. Then apply your transparency settings to the fill. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/AdobeIllustrator
7
2
October 28, 2021
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Solopress UK
solopress.com › home › design tutorials › how to use the gradient tool in illustrator
How To Use The Gradient Tool In Illustrator | Adobe Tutorial | Solopress UK
April 26, 2021 - Just as an example, I’ll be making a shape using the Rectangle tool, holding the shift key as I draw it. Go to the gradient panel on the left hand side of the screen and click to select.
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Lessonsindesign
lessonsindesign.com › freeform-gradient-tool-in-illustrator
Using Illustrator's Freeform Gradient Tool in 6 Steps
July 21, 2021 - You can find the freeform gradient tool in the gradients panel, just to the right of the linear and radial gradient options. To use it, just make sure your shape is selected, then click on the freeform gradient button.
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Academy Class
academyclass.com › home › creating a gradient in adobe illustrator
Creating a Gradient In Adobe Illustrator - Academy Class
October 22, 2021 - ... How to make radial gradients ... wish to apply the gradient to. ‘Gradient Type’ buttons are shown in the Properties Panel or Control Panel. When the object is selected, ......
Price   $199
Call   448000438889
Address   39 York Road, SE17NQ, London
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Shutterstock
shutterstock.com › blog home › designer › design resources › how to use the gradient tool in illustrator
Tool Guide: How to Use the Gradient Tool in Adobe Illustrator
November 9, 2022 - Revamp your designs by applying colorful gradients to solid vector shapes and typography. Use this guide to learn everything you need to know about the gradient tool in Adobe Illustrator.
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IllustratorHow
illustratorhow.com › home › adobe illustrator tutorials › how to use gradient tool in adobe illustrator
how to use the gradient tool in Adobe Illustrator
April 19, 2024 - There are several places where you can find the gradient tool in Adobe Illustrator, the toolbar, between fill and stroke, and the Appearance panel when you have an object selected.
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TheVirtualInstructor
thevirtualinstructor.com › Gradientillustrator.html
Adobe Illustrator - How to Use the Gradient Tool
Use the gradient tool to create ... images in Illustrator by layering vector objects with varying degrees of opacity. It is possible to bring an image to photorealistic levels by using the gradient tool effectively. Like This Lesson? If so, join over 36,000 others that receive our newsletter with new drawing and painting lessons. Plus, check out three of our course videos and ebooks for free...
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CreativeLive
creativelive.com › class › freeform-gradients-in-adobe-illustrator-jason-hoppe
Freeform Gradients in Adobe Illustrator CC with Jason Hoppe | CreativeLive
Freeform Gradients in Adobe Illustrator CC with Jason Hoppe
AFTER THIS CLASS YOU’LL BE ABLE TO: Utilize the new freeform gradient tool in Illustrator Understand and navigate the gradient panel Identify uses for gradients in your projects Create and edit gradients of a wide variety ABOUT JASON’S CLASS:Gradients add a hint of dimension and interest to any flat graphic.
Price   $29.00
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Adobe
helpx.adobe.com › illustrator › using › tool-techniques › gradient-tool.html
Create gradual color blend using the Gradient tool
July 17, 2024 - Double-click the Gradient tool or press G to open the Gradient panel. Choose a gradient type – Linear, Radial, and Freeform. By default, Linear gradient type is selected. Change the stroke, angle, aspect ratio, or opacity to edit the gradient. Use the Gradient slider on the Gradient panel ...
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Learn That Yourself
learnthatyourself.com › home › graphic design software › adobe illustrator tutorials
How To Use Gradient Tool In Illustrator
Points: It is used to create a shade of color spot in an area. Line: It is used to shade an area around a line. ... Click the Gradient tool and then click the object on the artboard.
Published   December 9, 2025
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YouTube
youtube.com › watch
How to Make Illustrator's Gradient Tool EASY! - YouTube
Head to https://squarespace.com/dansky to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code DANSKYAdobe Illustrator's Gradient Tool is a pow...
Published   June 24, 2024
Top answer
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Those little diamonds are sliders to choose which color should be more dominant between the two colors. (Slide it to choose.) By default it is 50% (equal strength)

Notice how as I drag it towards a color, it becomes "weaker".


You can add other colors to a gradient, it'd probably be easier to use the Gradient Panel (Window → Gradient or Ctrl+F9)

Just drag and drop a color into the gradient to add it:

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Welz is dead-on about the gradient panel.

Referring strictly to the Gradient Annotator which appears on gradient-filled objects on the artboard when you hover over them with the Gradient Tool..... Each "bit" has a different function. Some are similar to the panel functions, some are additional or different...

  • Black Circle on the left - click-drag to reposition/move the gradient.
  • Black Diamond on the right - click-drag to change the length of the gradient or hover the cursor just outside the diamond and you can rotate the gradient (you'll see the cursor change to the "rotate" cursor, then click-drag). The center of rotation is the black circle on the left.
  • White Squares are "mix" points. You can use these to alter how two color stops react to one another, allowing one color to extend closer to another. By default, these squares are placed at the 50% point between two color stops.
  • Color Pointed Squares control the color and opacity of that stop point.

You can double-click a color stop to alter the color of that stop. Or merely click the bottom edge of the gradient "bar" to add a new color stop at the click location.

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Adobe
helpx.adobe.com › ie › illustrator › using › gradients.html
Create gradients in Illustrator
August 4, 2025 - In Illustrator, you can create, apply, and modify a gradient using the Gradient panel, the Gradient tool, or the Control panel. In Illustrator, you can create the following three types of gradients: Linear Use this gradient type to blend colors from one point to another in a straight line. Radial Use this gradient type to blend colors from one point to another point in a circular pattern. Freeform Use this gradient type to create a graduated blend of color stops within a shape in an ordered or random sequence such that the blending appears smooth and natural.
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YouTube
youtube.com › envato tuts+
How to Make a Gradient in Illustrator - YouTube
Welcome to How to Make a Gradient in Illustrator. In this video, you will learn the step by step process of how to create basic gradients using Adobe Illustr...
Published   October 27, 2019
Views   136K
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DesignBro
designbro.com › blog › guides › how-to-use-the-gradient-mesh-tool-in-adobe-illustrator
How to Use the Gradient Mesh Tool in Adobe Illustrator
August 30, 2019 - Before we dive into the step-by-step tutorial of the amazing Gradient Mesh Tool, it is good to note that this function can be found on Adobe Illustrator CS5, CS6, and CC.
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Yes I'm a Designer
yesimadesigner.com › home › blog › creating gradients in adobe illustrator
Creating Gradients in Adobe Illustrator - Yes I'm a Designer
March 3, 2020 - Or read on for a brief overview of the processes and to see some cool examples of other designers using gradients in their creative work! You need a simple shape, this could be drawn with the Pencil Tool Pen Tool or just be a regular shape i.e circle or square. It's important to mention that the Freefrom Gradient option can only be applied to the fill area of the object and not the stroke.
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Designmodo
designmodo.com › home › resources › adobe tools › how to control gradient fills in adobe illustrator
How to Control Gradient Fills in Adobe Illustrator
March 18, 2024 - Free Email BuilderFree Email Templates · You can also control the gradient using the Gradient Annotator. This feature, as well as an elliptical gradient, has only appeared in Adobe Illustrator CS4. Gradient Annotator becomes active only after you choose the Gradient Tool (G). For various reasons Gradient Annotator may disappear in the process, which is ...
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CreativeLive
creativelive.com › class › freeform-gradients-in-adobe-illustrator-jason-hoppe › lessons › creating-gradients-on-fills-and-strokes
Creating Gradients on Fills and Strokes from Freeform Gradients in Adobe Illustrator CC with Jason Hoppe | CreativeLive
Freeform Gradients in Adobe Illustrator CC with Jason Hoppe
Join Jason Hoppe for Lesson 2: Creating Gradients on Fills and Strokes of Freeform Gradients in Adobe Illustrator CC on CreativeLive. Available with seamless streaming across your devices. Get started on your creative journey with the best in creative education taught by world-class instructors. Watch a free lesson today.
Price   $29.00
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Adobe
helpx.adobe.com › illustrator › web › add-and-edit-artwork › add-colors › modify-gradients.html
Modify gradients in Illustrator on the web (Beta)
September 9, 2024 - Delete color stops: To delete a color stop, select a color stop on the gradient annotator and select the Trash icon. Select the object. Select Fill or Strokes. Select Freeform gradient from the dropdown on the upper left side of the panel.