User Guide

Canvas 12 User Guide
Working with gradient inks
A gradient is a gradual blending of colors. A gradient ink can blend two or more colors in a variety of
styles. Like other inks, gradient inks can be applied as fill inks or pen inks to vector and text objects.
The appearance of a gradient ink depends on several factors. Gradients appear smooth on monitors
that display millions of colors, but can appear coarse and dithered on monitors that display only 256
colors. The more extreme the difference in colors, the coarser a gradient can appear. When a
gradient has large color transitions, it appears smoother in an object that is large enough to show all
the transitions.
Applying gradient inks
Canvas gives you the option of applying gradients directly from the Presets palette or using the
Vector Gradient tool. When a gradient ink is applied via the Presets palette, the gradient effect is
centered within the object. If you want non-centered effects, use the Vector Gradient tool.
To apply gradient inks from the Presets palette:
Select the Pen or Fill ink icon on the Presets palette.
If object is selected, click on the gradient ink cell.
If object is not selected, click on the gradient ink cell and drag the ink to the object.
See "Applying preset inks" on page 229, for complete steps about applying inks.
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