How to Make Gradients in Adobe Illustrator

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Create a new document.

   Go to File > New (or Ctrl + N), and set the size of the document to a vertical-letter sized canvas.
   
   Add guides by creating a rectangle using the rectangle tool (W:8.5in, H:11in).
   
   Then drag the guides onto each center of the bounding box.
   
   Finish by right clicking over your ruler to change your document measurements to pixels.
2. 2

   Step 2: Create five shapes using your rectangle

   Create the shapes by following these measurements:
   Square:
   Width=25px, Height=25px ; Rounded Square:
   Width=25px, Height=25px, Corner Radius=5px ; Circle:
   Width=25px, Height=25px ; Polygon:
   Radius=15px, Sides=6 ; Star:
   Radius 1=15px, Radius 2=7px, Points=5px.
   
   Make sure the shape’s fills are set to white and their stroke to black. , You can do this by clicking on your swatches and then clicking the upper right corner of your gradient panel in your panel menu.
   
   When the dialog box appears, simply click on new swatch and then okay. , Set the colors to the following combinations:
   Lilac:
   C=50, M=53, Y=0, K=0 ; Green:
   C=80.57, M=3.08, Y=83.71, K=0.08. ,, On the gradient panel, drag the lilac swatch to the color stop in order to change the black color.
   
   Then select the square and click on the gradient fill box.
   
   To change the direction of the gradient, click “G” on your keyboard, hold down the shift key and drag your pointer upward.
   
   A gradient of white-to-lilac will appear on the square. , Select your rounded square and click again your gradient fill box.
   
   Once again change the direction of the gradient from green to lilac. , Select the circle and click again the gradient fill box, change again also the direction of the gradient from green, white to lilac. , Then change the type of gradient from linear to radial.
   
   Next, select the polygon shape and click the gradient fill box. , Select the star shape and click the gradient fill box.
   
   You now have different kinds of shapes with different kinds and blends of gradients.
3. 3

   Step 3: rounded rectangle

4. 4

   Step 4: ellipse

5. 5

   Step 5: polygon and star tool.

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   Step 6: After creating the five shapes (as suggested above)

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   Step 7: create two swatches.

8. 8

   Step 8: Create two new swatches.

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   Step 9: In order to apply the different kinds of gradients you'll need to elect or click on your gradient tab and drag the window closer to the shapes.

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    Step 10: Make the first gradient blend on the first shape.

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    Step 11: For the second gradient blend

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    Step 12: drag the green swatch to the color stop to change the gradient from green to lilac.

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    Step 13: For the third gradient blend

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    Step 14: drag the white swatch to the color stop.

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    Step 15: For the fourth gradient blend

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    Step 16: select the square to recall the first gradient blend on your gradient panel.

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    Step 17: For your fifth and final gradient blend

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    Step 18: drag the green swatch onto the color stop.

Detailed Guide

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