Illustrator 101: One Gradient Across Multiple Paths
Again, this is a rather trivial Illy skill, but with a program as robust and sometimes mystical as Illustrator, you can often get something to work and never know why. Other times you can’t get something to work, something that seems like it makes a lot of sense, and all you are missing is a simple ‘bitt’ of knowledge to rid you of your frustrations. In this quick tip, we will touch on the importance of compound paths, as opposed to groups, when applying a single gradient across multiple shapes in Illustrator.
In a Nutshell:
It may make sense to make a group when you want to apply a gradient across more than one shape, but Illustrator disagrees. In order to make a gradient stretch across more than one individual shape in Illustrator, you have to make a “compound path.”
A gradient applied to a “group” of shapes will apply the gradient to each shape individually, like this:
A gradient applied to a “compound path” will achieve the desired result, like this:
Do It Yourself:
1. Lets say that you have a few individual shapes/paths that you would like to apply a single gradient to, like below: (very simplified example)
2. Make sure that they are ungrouped, and that you can select them individually like this:
3. Now, select all of your shapes, and Control + Click (right click) on them somewhere to bring up your Options. Select “Make Compound Path.”
4. Now apply your gradient, and it will stretch across all of your shapes! Simple as that.
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Does anyone know how to make a gradient across an arc (but not like a rainbow)???
Great stuff Bittbox.. Gracias!
well, you can do just about any gradient effect imaginable using the gradient mesh tool. there’s a really good tutorial on this page:
http://www.lifeinvector.com/downloads.html
You can also use the gradient tool for this. Select a number of objects and then drag the tool across them. It will apply the gradient in a manner similar to your result, but without creating a compound path.
Laura is right and at the same time, you have much more control.. or at least “mousecontrolling” your applied gradient.
Thanks “Bitt” its one of those things I never found out how to achive, thank you very much.
Very useful, as usual, thanks !
Another simple but very useful tool I wasn’t aware of, thanks!
Maybe I’m alone on this one, but I’ve just never been very fond of the “Gradient Tool” itself.
~Bitt
No, you’re not alone. Nearly every student to go through ISU’s graphic design program feels your gradient pain. There’s a 2 credit technology class that has a technical illustration that’s supposed to be done with gradients that most students put around a good 70 to 100 hours into.
Inkscape requires no “compound path”. This technique is easily done in Inkscape.
I have to disagree on this one! I think the gradient tool is a huge helper. I didn’t discover it until recently and it has saved me a lot of time, trouble, and enabled me to do things with simple gradients I couldn’t find a way to achieve through the pallette alone. Like making the gradient start from any point of an object instead of going exactly from end to end. It’s also faster to change the angle of my gradient to just drag my mouse then typing in a numeral that may or may not be the angle I want.
I agree that Illustrator’s gradient tool is rather lacking. The gradient tool in Inkscape, however, is FANTASTIC. You can change the ’shape’ of the gradient, like make instead of a perfectly radial gradient, an eliptical one. It also lets you play with two anchors to precisely set the gradient’s position on the shape.
Illustrator really needs that. I have to go back to Inkscape every now and then when doing lots of compound gradient work just to get Inkscape’s gradient.
Illustrator is a great full featured vector program, EXCEPT for gradient and pattern support. LIKE WHY CANT I GET A GRADIENT IN MY STROKE GUIZE??
Thanks Bitt, that looks like a very useful tip. Also thanks to the commenters with the tip about more mouse control using the gradient tool.
Brilliant!!
I really don’t see the problem with gradient tool.. perhaps im just used to it, on the other hand, a path to control your gradient could be useful.
On the other hand, I dont use PS much
Laura is right (use the Gradient tool to make gradients). Plus you can eyeball the angle, or use the palette for a real directional number…
I don’t see what the problem is with the Gradient tool. It’s not that different from what we have in Photoshop.
Priceless stuff Bittbox….as always your tips are quite useful. The gradient tool is not exactly my favorite…thanks for making it easier to work with it.
s
You can also just pick the gradient tool after you make the objects a group. Drag the gradient in you desired direction over the objects. No need to make it a compound path.
thanks!! I got home work on making a grey scale…lol thanks!
Thanks for the tip - it was so simple but it would take me a long time to figure this out myself =)
Actually, you don’t need a group or a compound path. After filling your multiple objects with a gradient, if you select them all and use the gradient tool from the tool bar to click and drag, you can easily put one continuous gradient through all objects…
The only thing that would make this different is when moving various objects around after. Since the gradient is tied to all of a compound path, moving a single piece of the object you created above is going to affect the gradient in all other pieces where as, doing it the way I mentioned would essentially make a series of “dead” pieces that when moved, will not change.
This seemed to not work with a US map over 24 objects? I wanted to apply a gradient so I had to click on each state and it worked with half the map! but it only offered me the clipping mask option and not the compound path after I clicked on all of them. Anything I can do?
really nice tutorial
Compound paths rule!
Wowee! Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is exactly what I need. You are a lifesaver. Thank you for posting this easy to understand tutorial. You rock!
Hello!
I have a problem. This is OFFtopic in this tip, but maybe you could help me.
So, I have 12 circle, and I would like to set them around a circle, and a gradient over them. Like as the hour numbers on a watch. And I would like the gradient start from the 12 with black for example, and finish on the 11 with white.
If I use the gradient painting on the circles when these are in one line, how could I put them around a circle? Or how could I make a new gradient style to paint them after the rotation?
Thanks in advance, and this is the best Illustrator trick page all over the web!
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