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InDesign CS3  |  Go to CS4 Help

Create a gradient swatch

You can create, name, and edit gradients using the same Swatches panel you use to work with solid colors and tints. You can also create unnamed gradients using the Gradient panel.

  1. Choose New Gradient Swatch in the Swatches panel menu.
  2. For Swatch Name, type a name for the gradient.
  3. For Type, choose Linear or Radial.
  4. Select the first color stop in the gradient.
    First color stop

  5. For Stop Color, do one of the following:

    • To choose a color that’s already in the Swatches panel, choose Swatches, and select a color from the list.

    • To mix a new unnamed color for the gradient, choose a color mode, and enter color values or drag the sliders.

      Note: By default, the first stop of the gradient is set to white. To make it transparent, apply the Paper swatch.
  6. To change the last color in the gradient, select the last color stop, and repeat step 5.
  7. To adjust the position of gradient colors, do one of the following:

    • Drag the color stops located under the bar.

    • Select a color stop under the bar, and enter a Location value to set the position of that color. This position represents the percentage of distance between the previous color and the next color.

  8. To adjust the midpoint between two gradient colors (the point at which the colors are at 50%), do one of the following:

    • Drag the diamond icon located above the bar.

    • Select the diamond icon above the bar, and enter a Location value to set the position of that color. This position represents the percentage of distance between the previous color and the next color.

  9. Click OK or Add. The gradient is stored in the Swatches panel with its name.

Comments

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Comments


EttaMae1 said on Mar 4, 2008 at 1:13 PM :
When I go to this window in Indesign CS3 the ability to create colors is all greyed out. What am I doing wrong?
Bob - Adobe Writer said on Mar 4, 2008 at 6:08 PM :
Yes, this is a common issue. The key is to click the little paint bucket icon under Gradient Ramp. Then the colors should appear.
kmpfromwi said on May 28, 2008 at 6:31 AM :
I can't locate the gradient ramp. I'm on the 30-day trial version. Does that make a difference?

Is there a video to show how to create gradients?

Are there stock gradients in InDesign?

Thanks,
KP
Bob - Adobe Writer said on May 28, 2008 at 9:38 AM :
No, the 30-day trial version doesn't limit your ability to create gradients.

When creating a gradient, open the Swatches panel, select a color other than the presets ([None], [Black], etc.), and then choose Create Gradient Swatch from the panel menu on the right side. You should see the gradient swatch.

I'm not aware of any videos for creating gradients. I'll post a URL if I find one.
StanWilliams said on Jul 8, 2008 at 8:08 PM :
I'm on a Mac, does that make a difference in these panels? I've spent a lot of time today looking for panels and windows that don't seem to exist. This panel, for instance, "New Gradient Swatch" doesn't show up anywhere.
Bob - Adobe Writer said on Jul 8, 2008 at 8:37 PM :
When viewing panels, there's no difference between Mac and Windows. In this particular case, New Gradient Swatch is a dialog box, not a panel. You display this dialog box by choosing the Create Gradient Swatch option from the Swatches panel menu, which is the flyout menu that appears when you click the icon in the upper right corner of any panel.
No screen name said on Jul 9, 2008 at 2:53 AM :
In trying to produce a gradient from Mid Blue to White - as the colour got whiter it began to show as bars of colour, instead of gradient?
Allabest
Dick
No screen name said on Aug 20, 2008 at 4:25 AM :
This must be so easy - but I can't figure out how to put a colour to a gradient - I have got the 'new gradient swatch' screen up but the colour box is all greyed out - where am I going wrong, I have tried with a box highlighted on the page and without and it doesn't seem to make any difference.

I did it once before but cannot remember how I did it, please help!
Bob - Adobe Writer said on Aug 20, 2008 at 8:54 AM :
First, create the swatch based on a color swatch. Second, click one of the paint buckets on either end of the slider. You should be able to change the color. Let me know if that doesn't work.
No screen name said on Aug 20, 2008 at 12:38 PM :
That's great, knew I had to be missing something simple - thank you
No screen name said on Aug 21, 2008 at 1:01 AM :
In trying to produce a gradient from Mid Blue to White - as the colour got whiter it began to show as bars of colour, instead of gradient? What am I doing wrong. It seems to be only with the blue. The others look OK.
Dick
Bob - Adobe Writer said on Aug 21, 2008 at 7:32 AM :
This question is better suited for the user forums:

www.adobe.com/suport/forums

 

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