| Fun with Gradients in PI 4.2 | |
This "tutorial" is really more of a demonstration of what can be done with gradients. Many wonderful effects can be acheived with gradients, especially 3D effects. First, we are going to make a series of navigational bars:
3D Navigational Bars
1.
Open a new image, 500x100 pixels, white background.
2. Select your "path" tool, and choose "rounded rectangle."
3.
Draw a rounded rectangle path on your image. On the drop down
menu for the path toolbar, choose "selection" to convert your
path into a selection.
4.
Choose your "fill tool", which is the button with the bucket
on it at the bottom of your left tool bar. Click on the small
triangle on the lower right corner to select what kind of fill
you want. We want to choose the "linear gradient fill" button.
5.
Set the mode to "two color", and choose two colors from the
same family group, such as a light blue as your foreground color
and a dark blue as your background color.
6. Starting at the top of your selection, click and drag the gradient tool straight down to the bottom of your selection. Release the mouse, and your image should look like this:
7. From this image, we will make the following bars:
Once you understand the basics of gradients, the possibilities are endless! You can add text, create mouseover images, etc. Here is how we made the bars:
Bar #1. For the first bar, first right click on your image and select "none" so nothing is selected. Then, follow steps 2 & 3 above to create a smaller rounded rectangle selection inside your image. Right click on the new selection and convert to object. Repeat steps 4, 5 & 6, but start your linear gradient from the bottom and go to the top. Right click on your image and select "duplicate object" two times. Hold your shift key down and click on each object, so they are all selected. Space them on your image so they are approximately the same distance apart, or you can use the Web --> Space Evenly function to do this. Hold the shift key and click on all three objects, and select Web -->Align Objects --> Center Horizontally to align them. Right click and merge.
Bar #2. For the second bar, do not deselect your image! Right click on your image and select "Expand/Shrink" and set it as follows:
Follow steps 4, 5 & 6 above, but start the linear gradient from the bottom to the top, so the image is opposite. Now, follow the steps for Bar 1, but fill with a linear gradient from top to bottom. Again, right click and merge!
Bars #3 & 4. Follow the steps for bar #2, but set the pixels to 2 or 3. Choose your selection tool with the following settings:
Make small cuts in the selection with the selection tool, making sure the cuts are taller than the original selection. This will divide up your selection. Make the cuts at least 4 pixels wide.
Follow steps 4, 5 & 6, starting your gradient from the bottom to the top. Then right click and choose "Expand/Shrink" and shrink your selection 2 pixels.
To make bar #3, fill with your two color gradient from top to bottom, then adjust the brightness (Format --> Color and Brightness) using the slider until you get a color you like. I lowered the brightness to get the above image. Right click and merge!
To make bar #4, I changed the fill tool's settings to linear gradient, multiple-color, and choose pallet #39. I then applied a blur so the colors blended well.
One of PhotoImpact's best features are the many choices for gradients. I will show you how to make your own pallet ramps for the multiple gradient selection in the next tutorial.
© 1999-2001 Tiffany Ring Deco-Ration!Web Design, licensed to About.com. All Rights Reserved. To submit your own content to this site, visit the article submission form.
