1. Working with Text and Gradients

2. Objectives Create a gradient Create and format text
Use the Gradient tool
Create a drop shadow for text
Place a bitmap image
Apply a radial gradient
Make an object transparent
Create text on a path

3. Gradient: type of fill that provides a transition between colors
Creating a Gradient
Gradient: type of fill that provides a transition between colors
Created using the Gradient panel
Can be linear or radial
Linear: colors gradate in one straight direction
Radial gradient: color radiates from a central point

4. Gradients are composed of two or more color stops
Creating a Gradient
Gradients are composed of two or more color stops
Colors that are blended
Gradient Slider
Shows a preview
Midpoint slider
Determines where the two colors are blended with 50% of each color

5. Creating a Gradient FIGURE E-1: Identifying the Linear Gradient swatch
FIGURE E-2: Elements of the Gradient pane

6. Creating a Gradient FIGURE E-3: Viewing three color stops
FIGURE E-4: Moving a midpoint slider

7. Creating and Formatting Text
Text is created using the Type tool on the artboard
Transformed using transform tools
Select, move, fill, and stroke
Formatted using the Character panel
Fonts and font sizes
Kerning: adjusting the space between pairs of characters
Tracking: affects overall spacing

8. Creating and Formatting Text
FIGURE E-5: Character panel

9. Creating and Formatting Text
FIGURE E-6: Two kerned pairs of letters

10. Using the Gradient Tool
Used to define the length and angle of the gradient
Works by clicking and dragging
Creates beginning and ending points
Any direction and length
Gradient annotator appears as you drag, showing the gradient length and direction
Manipulates the gradient independently of the object or objects that contain the gradient

11. Using the Gradient Tool
FIGURE E-7: Viewing the linear gradient in the letter objects

12. Using the Gradient Tool
FIGURE E-8: Using the Gradient tool
FIGURE E-9: Gradient flowing from top to bottom

13. Creating a Drop Shadow for Text
Drop shadows:
Effects used to enhance type
To offset a copy of text-usually black-behind the main text
Offset means that the two are not aligned
Shadow is visible in a slightly different location
Blackness behind main text makes the main text stand out more

14. Creating Drop Shadows for Text
FIGURE E-10: Simple drop shadow
FIGURE E-11: Smoother, more appealing drop shadow

15. Creating Drop Shadows for Text
FIGURE E-12: Positioning the text

16. Placing a Bitmap Image Bitmap images Vector graphics
Placed using the Place command
Treated in many ways like an Illustrator object: transform it, move it, apply a stroke, etc.
Created from pixels
Small squares of color
Vector graphics
Created with paths and fills

17. Placing a Bitmap Image
FIGURE E-13: Viewing the placed image

18. Placing a Bitmap Image FIGURE E-14: Positioning the red circle
Positioning the clipped image

19. Applying a Radial Gradient
Radial gradients:
Like concentric circles
Colors in radial gradients radiate outward from a small circle in the center and then get increasingly larger
Applied using the Gradient tool
Click represents the center
How far you drag from the center represents the length that the gradient will gradate outwardly from the center
Circular dotted line shows the size at which the radial gradient will appear in the object

20. Applying a Radial Gradient
FIGURE E-16:
Identifying the Radial Gradient swatch
FIGURE E-17:
Positioning the Gradient tool

21. Applying a Radial Gradient
FIGURE E-18:
Redrawing the radial gradient fill
FIGURE E-19:
Viewing the radial gradient

22. Applying a Radial Gradient
Gradient Annotator
Whenever you select an object with a gradient fill and then click the Gradient tool, the gradient annotator appears on the object itself
Shows the length and angle of the gradient
FIGURE E-20:
The gradient annotator

23. Making an Object Transparent
When an object is opaque, you cannot see through it
Opacity: how opaque the fill or stroke of an object is
Transparency panel: used to specify object opacity
Makes objects transparent or semi-transparent
Transparency panel also includes a menu of blending modes

24. Making an Object Transparent
FIGURE E-21: Transparency panel
FIGURE E-22: Viewing the semi-transparent circle and its effect

25. Creating Text on a Path Type on a Path tool Character panel:
Used to position type on curved paths, straight paths, and objects
Center bracket appears on the path that can be dragged
Character panel:
Used to format text

26. Creating Text on a Path Baseline shift:
Specifies how far above or below the path the text is positioned
Positive value: positions text above the path
Negative value: positions text below the path

27. Creating Text on a Path
FIGURE E-23: Using the center bracket to position the text

28. Creating Text on a Path
FIGURE E-24: Viewing the final illustration

29. Summary Create a gradient Create and format text Use the Gradient tool
Create a drop shadow for text
Place a bitmap image
Apply a radial gradient
Make an object transparent
Create text on a path