Gradients
Add a gradient
Section titled “Add a gradient”Set Fill Color or Stroke Color to Gradient in Fill & Stroke. A new gradient starts as a linear black-to-white ramp.
Switching back to Solid takes the color at the start of the ramp. On a gradient that is switched off, choosing Solid replaces it with a solid.
Gradient settings
Section titled “Gradient settings”| Setting | Does |
|---|---|
| Gradient | Linear or Radial |
| Start, End | The gradient’s start and end points |
| Scale, Rotation | Scale and turn the whole gradient |
| Highlight, Highlight angle | Radial only: where the bright spot sits |
The ramp under Fill Color or Stroke Color holds the stops: opacity stops above it, color stops below.
- Click above or below the ramp to add a stop.
- Drag a stop to move it; drag it off the ramp to remove it.
- Drag a diamond between two stops to move their midpoint. Double-click it to reset it.
- Double-click a color stop to pick its color.
- Reverse gradient flips the ramp end to end.
- The selected stop’s Color or Opacity and Location are under the ramp. Arrow keys nudge it 1% (10% with Shift); Delete removes it.
With several shapes selected, the ramp edits all of their gradients at once.
Gradient tool (G)
Section titled “Gradient tool (G)”Places the gradient on the canvas. In Properties, Apply to chooses Fill or Stroke.
- Drag across a selected shape to set the gradient’s direction. Shift constrains the angle to 45°.
- Click to span it across the shape from left to right.
- Drag the start or end handle, the bar, or the rotate handle past the end to adjust it.
- Click the bar to add a color stop. Drag stops and midpoint diamonds along it; double-click a diamond to reset it, or a stop to pick its color.
On a shape with no gradient, the tool adds one. With several shapes selected, they all take the same gradient and direction.
Limits
Section titled “Limits”- A gradient whose stops Design Mode could not read, or whose colors are keyframed, shows Colors are edited in After Effects.
- Text cannot take a gradient.
- Push keeps gradients, including ones you draw. Push as new creates only solid fills and strokes: a gradient becomes a solid in the color at the start of the ramp, or is left out, and the push says so.