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Vector Gradient Fills: Freehand Blends
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The two objects in the top row are blended in the lower
view.
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I warned earlier in this tutorial that we would only be taking a very
short look at blends in this article. It warrants an entire tutorial,
but I did want to include the idea here, since often the perfect effect
may not be possible with a gradient fill, but can be accomplished with
a blend.
Quite simply, a blend creates a gradient fill look, but with many controls
available to you. A gradient runs from one color to another. A blend
combines two objects together in incremental steps. In the sample at
the left, the lower sample is a blend of the two objects above.
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For one click blending, open the Xtra Operations toolbar.
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Options to create a blend
If you are going to be working with blends, it is worth opening the
Xtra Operations toolbar as shown here. The blend option, shown highlighted
by red, gives you one click access to blends. Choose Window>Toolbars>Xtra
Operations to open the toolbar. You can also create a blend through
the menu by choosing Modify>Combine>Blend or Xtras>Create>Blend.
The toolbar or menu methods all accomplish exactly the same results.
Only one is required to create a blend.
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The samples here show the objects before and after
blending.
Number of blend steps reduced to 5.
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Draw two objects. Fill with desired color and, in most
cases, remove the stroke, especially if you are looking to create a
custom gradient fill look.
Select both objects with the Pointer tool. Click on the
Blend tool from Xtra Operations toolbar or choose one of the menu commands
described above. The two objects will blend.
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The Object Inspector is used to change the number of steps in
the blend, or where the first and last blend shapes are placed.
Highlight the value you wish to change and enter the new number.
The more steps you specify, the smoother the blend will be. The
first blended sample at the left has 50 steps, while the second
sample has had the steps reduced to 5.
NOTE: When you have entered the values, you will have to use
your ENTER key to activate changes.
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The first and last range % setting determines where the first and
last blend steps will be placed. These values are adjusted automatically
as you change the number of steps, providing a smooth transition,
but can be changed for special effects. The final blend sample at
the right has the first and last range % changed to 30% and 100%
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Finally, for this brief look at blends, you may wish to
edit either the start or end object. With the Pointer tool selected, and
the ALT or OPTION key pressed down, click on the object you wish to change.
Only that object will be selected and you can change the color, size,
position, etc. The blend will redraw with your new settings. In the sample
shown here, I changed the color of the circle and the blend was changed
to reflect the new information. |
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This has only been a brief glimpse at the power of blends
in Freehand. You can control the blends in many more ways, choosing where
each object will blend in relation to the next object, blending along
a path, editing the blend path ... if you can imagine a blend, there is
a way to do it. However, that is for another time. In the meantime, experiment
with this powerful tool, get comfortable with it, and you will find yourself
returning to use blends over and over. |
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Return to start
Vector Gradient Fills Tutorial Index
Vector Gradient Fills Start
Illustrator Gradient Fills
Illustrator Gradient Fill Text and Blends
Freehand Gradient Fills
Freehand Blends
 
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