Quick links to procedures on this page:

Editing gradients

After you draw a gradient with the Interactive Gradient tool, you can edit it in the document window. An interactive gradient control appears, which marks the transition from one color to another. The direction and size of the gradient depend on where you first click in the document window, the distance that you drag, and the direction in which you drag. Each color in the gradient fill is represented by a square node on the interactive gradient control. You can modify the gradient appearance by repositioning nodes, adding and removing nodes, and changing the color of nodes.

Change a color, add a new color, or adjust the position and direction of a gradient by editing nodes interactively.

You can edit gradient attributes such as the gradient size, the direction of a gradient’s color blend, the gradient colors, and the gradient’s angle.

You can also edit existing gradient presets or custom gradients before you apply them or save them for future use.

To edit a gradient interactively Back to Top

 

Tip: You can also reverse the order of colors in the gradient by clicking the Reverse Gradient Direction button on the property bar.
Click a node, click the Color chip, and choose a color in the color picker.
Tip: You can also change the color by clicking a node, clicking the Gradient Node panel toggle button on the property bar, clicking the Color Selector in the Gradient Node panel, and choosing a color.
Click anywhere along the interactive gradient control, click the Color chip, and choose a color in the color picker.
Tip: You can also add a color by clicking anywhere along the interactive gradient control, clicking the Gradient Node panel toggle button on the property bar, clicking the Color Selector in the Gradient Node panel, and choosing a color.
Click a node. Click the Gradient Node panel toggle button on the property bar. In the Gradient Node panel, click Delete Node.
Click a node. Click the Gradient Node panel toggle button on the property bar. In the Gradient Node panel, move the Opacity slider or enter a value in the box.
Click a node. Click the Gradient Node panel toggle button on the property bar. In the Gradient Node panel, move the Position slider or enter a value in the box.
To edit a gradient preset Back to Top

 

Click in the color ramp bar where you want to add a color, click the Color chip, and choose a color in the color picker.

A new color was added to the gradient by adding a node to the color ramp bar.

Disable the Linear check box and drag the Color Spread slider to control the color smoothness at each node.

The Color hue options allow you to change the hue of the blend within that segment.

Tip: To understand this concept better, refer to the standard display of the Color panel (Hue Ring and Saturation/Value Triangle), and note the order of the colors on the Hue Ring.
Press Option + click (macOS) or Alt + click (Windows) in the color ramp bar.

You can also

 

Click the Preset flyout button on the property bar, and click Gradients Panel to display the Gradients panel. Click the Spiral Gradient button in the Type area, and do any of the following:

A gradient with low spiral tension (left) and high spiral tension (right)

Drag the Ramp Angle slider or type an angle in the corresponding numeric value box.

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