7 replies to this topic

[::WebCreate::]

I don't know if its just me being stupid, but I can't figure out how to add a gradient fill to text in illustrator CS3.
(remember i'm an avid corel user...trying out adobe )
Please help

[Mooey]

I don't know if its changed since CS2 but all I do is:

• select the text
  
• click on any gradient swatch
  
• then edit the swatch on the toolbar

[::WebCreate::]

Yeah thats what i initially thought...but it won't let me apply a gradient...anybody else have this same problem?

[Scythar]

theres a way, but cant remember,my head is spinning, ill get back to you.
Erm... look at the options palette on top.
And indeed, in Illustrator CS3 it changed, cos now they suddenly want everyting to be "smart", which basicly means that you can always alter anything --> But at the cost that everything behaves differently all the suddon.

Now,
what you could do (normally its not necessary, but it always works)
type > create outlines >>> now it isnt text anymore.

yet another thing you could do is go to the appearance palette and double click the fillcolor and try to change from there. I usually use this to make special effects or to nest an effect in another effect.

Edited by Scythar, 18 January 2008 - 08:15 AM.

[::WebCreate::]

Thank you so much! It works
I don't know why they had to make that so complicated, hope i'll remember that for the future.

[Scythar]

ok,
heres a solution to make sure your text will always stay editable in Illustrator CS:
make an object and fill it with the gradient you want;
with selection tool, drag the object into the graphic Styles palette
from now on if you make a text you can just click on that gradient anbd it will be applied, while your text is still editable.

[Jacorre]

And here's my tutorial on gradient text if needed (while keeping the text editable)!

[Scythar]

yay,
thats what i meant: use the appearance palette,
BUT off course, as usual, Jacorre has to be more detailed and better explaining,
(omg, i hate this guy... )

J/K
Thx, for the link to that tutorial,
like i said its really the best way to use this!!
The appearance palette is a very powerfull asset, unfortenaly i dont see many ppl using it.
Just by changing the order of the layers inside it you'll see how powerfull it is.

I used to have fun making special lines (e.g. railway tracks) by copying and pasting that same line over and over again one on top of the other and changing stroke color/width and line cap style.
for the e.g f.ex that would be a total of 6 copies on top of the other (2 white, 4 black, stroke widths 4,4,5,6,7,12 and different dash patterns.
Now this made once and in appearance palette on 1 line only.