Quick Tutorial: Adding Gradients to Text
Tutorials | February 11th, 2009
I’m sure a bunch of you have seen this technique before in other blogs or are already aware of how to add gradients to text, but it is worth mentioning for those that don’t know this technique. Moreover, I found that adding an extra step to this known technique, enables you add transparent gradients to text in Illustrator CS4 while still keeping the text editable!
The Problem
In Illustrator, you can’t apply a gradient to text the way you normally add gradients to other objects. You can Outline the text and then add a gradient, but then you can’t edit the text later. No need to worry, there is an easy way to add gradients to text and keep them editable.
Step 1
Create some text with the Type tool, with the font of your choosing. I am using my favorite font of the moment, Klavika Bold Condensed.
Step 2
Set the fill and stroke of your text to none. If you don’t this, after you have applied the gradient to the text in the following steps, you will sometimes see the original text color peeking out on the text edges. Moreover, setting the fill and stroke to none, will make transparent gradients in Illustrator CS4 look correct. If you don’t set the fill to none initially, the color of the original text will show through your transparent gradient, not the object or color below the transparent gradient text.
Step 3
Select the text with the Selection tool, open the Appearance panel menu (top left menu button) in the Appearance panel and choose New Fill.
Step 4
Now apply a gradient and your done!
Experiment
Below is an experiment using this technique for the transparent gradient text.
Excellent Rype! I have wondered why it wasn’t possible without outlining the text!
Thanks a bunch Rype – this i valuable
Cool tip, all we need now are gradients on strokes. Pretty please, Adobe?
You can create something that has the same effect as a stroke by putting multiple fills on the text and using the offset path effect.
Hey Lensco,
Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming up in Adobe Illustrator CS6 – http://tv.adobe.com/watch/adobe-design-center/adobe-illustrator-cs6-sneak-peek-gradients-on-strokes/.
Regards,
David
Thanks for the tip! So easy & useful!
Wow! I didn’t know that. Good man.
Nice Tut, even nicer example. The example itself could be another great
tut.
I’m a new reader of your blog & I must say that it’s awesome, I get along fine with Photoshop and InDesign but Illustrator always gave me a hard time, but now it’s all gonna change, thank’s to you !!!
Keep on rockin’ !
@Darkspell
Welcome!
Another similar way of adding gradients to text is to apply a gradient to a shape, save it as a style and apply the style to the type/text.
Honestly I been spending like 2 months trying to fight this technique out. Thank you so much for this tutorial. This has ended on quest in my books.
This is a great tip! Thanks much!
Nice tut!
Plz create a tutorial on how to make that circles in background!
Yes! I love those circles at the end!
I wish I would of know this tip a long time ago! AWESOME, Thanks!!
awesome tutorial!
and I agree with Akkin! Please give us a tut showing how to do those circles!
I’ve been trying to create a super happy octopus on vector.tutplus.com, but I got stuck in step 6. I’ve followed the instruction. however, every time I tried to intersect the shape of the mouth & teeth, all the shapes are gone, except half the teeth.Help
Try Grouping the teeth shape and if you are using CS4 hold down Alt/Option when you press the Intersect button. Let em know if that helps.
Hi Rype, I still don’t know how to use intersect very well in CS4. So what I did was copying the original shape and add it to another shape. After I intersect it, I drag it back to the original shape
) sounds dumb.
This is a great technique to have on hand, thanks a bunch. I’ll be sure to use this often.
Thanks! Just what I was looking for.
Procurei e muito até encontrar seu blog, inclusive este foi o único tutorial que deu certo. Muito obrigado.
Many thanks for this tutorial! Having the text editable is a great time saver for me.
really cool tut, any chance that you’ll make one on the circles? those look incredible!!
thank you
excellent tip!
useful trick. i will use it anytime.
Awesome tip!
Just brilliant, Ta! After an hour of trying to find why it’s not easy to add graduation to text, and finding some weird solutions, THIS is just great! You’ve pout it simply and strait forward! Ace tip!
Your website is great! Thank you for your good tutorials. Could you also publish a tutorial for creating effective circular gradient below the gradient text? Thank you so much!
Thanks I needed this!
Great vector text tutorial.
Thanks! Great tutorial, really useful! Keep going!
very use full
Great and simple tutorial. Thanks!
Just want to say
Thank you very much for this great technique.
Hi. I’m new to Illustrator CS4 and I can add the gradient, per your instructions but, I can’t change the gradient colour from black (except for “Desert Sunset” or “Copper Radial”). I’d appreciate it if you can tell me how to get a gradient from the colour palette. Thank you so much.
@Penelope Select your text using the black pointer and you can see the gradient settings. On the gradient slider, double click (PC) on each tiny colour square to open up your colour pallet. Select the colour you want for each one. Done.
Perfect, just what I was looking for and took seconds!!! I usually do everything in Photoshop because I don’t normally need vector art. Thanks very much!
Doesn’t work in Adobe 6
Great Tuts. Really…
Bless you! You have just saved me so much time! Much gratitude xxx
Thank you very much.
Thanx mate! Good stuff…
Greets,
Chewie
Thank you I love you for this <3