howto: curved gradient
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- jslr
First up: my excuse is that I'm a developer, not a designer... :)
Request: how do you create a curved gradient? Trying to create a curved cylinder/tube effect. Available tools: PS5.5, fireworks MX, flash, freehand... (listed in order of familiarity!)
thanx in advance for any advice...
- Aquarius0
I've been wondering the same thing myself... in Illustrator.
- unknown0
try the gradient mesh tool in illustrator?
- quik0
do a gradient with three colours, lighter on the edges, and darker in the center.
totally tubeular dude!!
- islandbridge0
The Blend tool will do the trick.
Illustrator.
- Aquarius0
Thanks guys.
- jslr0
hmm - my bad - didn't really explain this one properly... I'm already cool on the basic concept of creating a tube using a gradient, but I'm basically trying to create a gradient that follows a curved path...or a filled curved path with a highlight.
Am I even thinking about this in the right way?
p.s. no illustrator!
- unknown0
i know exactly what you are talking about and i believe thats the mesh tool in illustrator. i dont know any other tools in any other programs that do that.
guys, let me try to explain this for him...
lets say he wants to make this blobby circle with a bunch of curves. when you apply a radial gradient to it...it doesnt follow your perimeter...it just makes it a circle and you can get the right blobby effect to it.
i know you can do that with the mesh tool...im not too good with the mesh tool though. dont know how to do it in any other program though man. sorry. hopefully the guys can help you out.
- Bio0
CorelDRAW also has a mesh tool that works similar to the Illustrator tool.
though i beg you to stay the hell away from Corel if have any self respect.
- unknown0
can you post an example?
- unknown0
i'll try to
- unknown0
http://www.angelfire.com/pa3/jay…
sorry for the shitty pop up window link, but i dont have access to my other ftp sites at work.
anyways, you can tell that the gradient doesnt follow its path...it just makes a circle gradient. that shit cant happen yo!
;o)
- unknown0
bump...
afterall, i did create that example.
i want feedback myself!
- unknown0
thats a piece of piss...
create a vector shape in photoshop using your pen tool, then in the paths tab, click on the path, and the then to go layer>new fill layer>gradiant. and the select radial gradiant and have a play
- unknown0
nope...did everything you said specifically...it still doesnt follow the path. the gradient is still a circle gradient trapped in that path i created...but it doesnt FOLLOW it.
- unknown0
bump bump bump n griiind...
lol...wasnt that an old r kelly song? or was it bobby brown?
- jslr0
mrniceguy - spot on. How to create a gradient that follows the path...? That's what I'm looking for.
Relative NT newbie - I'm presuming the *bump* thing is all about soliciting feedback, simultaneously pushing the topic to the top of the pile?
- islandbridge0
-Create a vertical path with the curve you want.
- Set the path to 0.2 pt or something
- Copy the path
- If you want a four colour gradient, copy the path four times
- Move the paths horisontely
- Colour your paths for highligts and shadows
- Select the paths
- Click with the blend tool on one simular anchor point on all the paths.
- With your new blend still selected, double click on the blend tool
- Choose smooth colour from the drop down.Voila a nice curved graded tube.
I think freehand has a simular tool.
Hope you can follow me.
Peace
- jslr0
thanks island. Not sure what app you're using there (did I just, once again, broadcast my newbieness??!), but I think I get the theory.
Gonna book out for a while for some shameless Thursday nite sky-oneism, but I'll probably see if I can make this work later...
- jslr0
btw - saw this up on another forum (typos n' all):
"do a path of the form you want. Convert to selection. Fill with a color. Now go to the effects windows (double click on the thumbnail in the layer tab)
applie inner glow, but don't pick a color, pick a gradient, it will follow whatever curve you draw"
Hmmmmmm...
- Mick0