Advanced gradient controle 3

[mikkelma]

Hi

I came across this picture, and was wondering if anyone in here know how its done??

Is it possible to do that with gradients in illustrator?

For me it dossent seems like there are any advanced gradient contole. is there anyway i can controle the flow or make the gradient follow a specific line or shape?

If it aint doable in illustrator i could use some tips on what program i can use

thanks Mikkel

 

[mezzi5]

Not sure how to do that in Illustrator.
In Coreldraw you can control the directional flow of a
gradient like the example using the Interactive Blend Tool.

Combine with powerclips and possible rasterizing to smooth
the blends further. Although keep a copy of the vector version inside the powerclip in case you need to come back to it.

Is there a method in Illustrator to control multiple blend
directions?

 

[mezzi5]

This might illustrate what I mean with the Interactive Blend Tool. I've purposely kept the Blend steps low / the outline size small and used bright colours to demonstrate how the
gradient can twist around corners.

 

[mezzi5]

And heres the same effect in Illustrator using its
Blend Tool!! (shortcut W)

Again you'd need to somehow make a clipping path that follows
the shape of the bends to give it a clean cut edge.

 

[mikkelma]

thanks for the tip Mezzi.

I was hoping for a way to do it in illustrator, but if it aint doable i will for sure try out Coreldraw. Tho its only for windows it seems =/

In illustrator you allmost have no controle over your gradient, i know there is a mesh tool, that lets you devide your objekt, and lay in more gradients but as far as i can see you cant change the direction or flow of it....

 

[mikkelma]

I dont see how i can make it in illustrator, when i cant change the angle? i know i can put more points in my gradient but it dosent help me make that smooth transaction. I want my gradient to swap around corners, and change the direction in the action like in Fig.2

I cant see how to make it smooth with just adding points, when it dossent change direction Fig.1

http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gradientflowya9.jpg

 

[mezzi5]

Dont know of any vector progs that will bend the gradient like fig2. If it exists, would love to know about it.

 

[apepp]

...illustrator can do this, you need to use a gradient brush on a stroke...

...see quick movie i have made (quicktime required), the blend object is already created using the blend feature, from black to dark black to very light black, so three blocks in total:

http://www.zen63258.zen.co.uk/tek/gradbrush.mov

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...the brush is easily editable by adjusting the three block blend (first step) and dragging back over the existing brush with the alt/option key held down, this will update all instances on you artwork...

...so, a bit of experimenting will be order to get it how you want...

...if this is destined for print, then be careful on what black you use (assuming you want to go black) if cmyk, a rich black is fine but don't over do the combine values of cmyk...

c - 20%,
m - 10%,
y - 15%
k - 100%

...is usually sufficient on a coated stock...

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...but in any case, one look at it by a print minder and he would probably gasp at the thought of printing it...

Andrew

 

[mikkelma]

Thanx alot Apepp

No way i whould have figured out this by myself. Its a little tricky to get it to work like intended, but none the less its working, so i am a happy goose...

Again thx mate

Mikkel

 

[mezzi5]

Wow, that was really cool apepp.

 

[apepp]

...does the job indeed!!

...the trouble with gradients are banding issues when printed, i can't stress enough how problematic gradients can be to print, particularly with very dark colors, pastel colors tend to work better...

...it is worth adding a small amount of noise to gradients to assist the printing and to break up any banding that might result...

...i would personally do this in photoshop as a post effect, then tweak the curve at both ends, 3% more in the shadows and a 3% touch more in the highlights...

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...a great touch is to then warp it with the warp filter...

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...to add...

...to create the illusion they are joined together down the middle (i.e. the bottom two shapes in jpeg image above), you need to create a white filled custom curve, no stroke, and position it underneath the two gradient shapes...

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...like this:

http://www.zen63258.zen.co.uk/tek/illusion.jpg

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...you would probably get a better result if you create the gradient brush with a standard gradient filled box (no stroke)...

...then choose object > expand fill > specify steps to 256 (maximum number of greys on a postscript device)...

...then in the layers palette delete the clipping mask this creates, it will be at the very top of the objects elements...

...then create you gradient brush as before...

...it may look dodgy on screen, but if you deselect anti-alias artwork in the illustrator preferences it will display better...

...this will also likely print out better...

Andrew

 

[mezzi5]

Apepp: excuse my ignorance but how did you create the first object in your video that you successfully used as a brush?

You point over it and it displays the different vertical paths.

 

[apepp]

...that is essentially three vector boxes, left one shaded black, middle one a bit lighter and the right one is white...

...i actually started with 2 boxes initially, then use the blend feature to create the gradient blend suitable for brush use...

...i tried the two box version but came to conclusion that the gradient was getting too light too soon when applied to the paths...

...so i ended up using three boxes instead, applied the blend function, and updated the brush using the alt/option command over the already existing brush, all old instances get changed when you select "apply to strokes" (the far left button in dialog)...

...the concern with this however is banding, or stepping...

...posted above is the other/better (dodgy screen render) approach that is more viable for high end output, that method is to expand a gradient filled box. I would go for this method if destined for high end output...

>>> choose object > expand fill > specify steps to 256 (maximum number of greys on a postscript device) <<<

...the illustrator (and acrobat) anti-alias preference does need disabling as otherwise it decieves you into thinking it is worse that it actually is...

...but even with this reduced banding method, it is worth doing post work in photoshop to add a tiny bit of noise to ease any banding issues that may be encountered further down the road...

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...also remember that a 1pt stroke is equal to the height of the source brush used, 2pt would then be 200% size...

...tweak the stroke setting to ensure you don't get too much overlap where the 'peak' is...

Andrew