Operation Manual

Fill, Lines, Colours, and Transparency 159
Working with gradient fills
Gradient fills are those that use gradients—small "spectrums" with colours
spreading between at least two defined key values. Specifically, gradient fills
include the Linear, Radial, Elliptical, Conical, Square, Three Colour, and Four
Colour types. Once you've applied a gradient fill to an object using the Swatch
tab (see Setting fill properties on p. 147), you can use the Fill Tool to edit the
object's fill path, defining the placement of the spectrum across the object.
Applying a gradient fill
There are several ways to apply a gradient fill as a line colour or object fill: using
the Fill Tool or via the Swatch tab. Using the Fill Tool, you can vary the fill's path
on an object for different effects.
To apply a gradient fill (Fill Tool):
1. Select a coloured object.
2. Click the Swatch tab and ensure the Line or Fill swatch is set
accordingly.
3. Click the Fill Tool on the Drawing toolbar.
4. Click and drag on the object to define the fill path (a solid line). The
object takes a simple Linear fill, grading from the current colour of the
object, ending in white (objects filled with white will grade from white
to black, to show contrast).
(
A
) Node (Start key colour),
(
B
) Node (End key colour), and
(
C
) Fill Path