How do i move center of radial gradient?

Edit: Teri, I have moved my question to the Illy forum. I just realized why I had not not seen this thread until you linked to it.

Eric,

Note that if you want to change where the center color starts without changing where the outside diameter goes, you should click with the Gradient Tool instead of dragging.

If you think of a radial gradient as being similar to a blend between two circles, a drag sets the radius of the outer circle, and a click sets the center of the inner circle. (Clicking outside the outer circle will force the highlight inside so that the inner circle fits within the outer one.)



James,

If you either make your three circles into a compound path, or if you group them and apply the gradient to the group (using the Add New Fill command when the group is the Appearance target), then moving any component will keep the entire gradient spanning the entire group or compound path. But if the individual paths are targeted, then as you've observed, they each independently keep their own chunk of the gradient.

So Illustrator provides a way to get whichever behavior is preferred for a specific illustration.

OK- that works. Thank you. I'm a little disappointed I couldn't get the answer to such a basic question from the Help file. It's probably in there- just buried.

I still like the way FreeHand does it better. Oh well- it's an Illustrator world now. I'll get used to it.

And it is kind of weird how the portion of the gradient moves with object-- but if you make all the objects a compound path and apply the gradient to that, then the gradient changes as you move the object.

If you're as easily amused as I am, try this too. This is a little weird to a FH-accustomed mind, but it's kinda cool:

1. Draw several objects arranged in a row. Apply the same gradient to each.
2. Select them all. Now ClickDrag across them with the Gradient Tool. The gradient will span across the separate paths.
3. Move one of the middle objects. Its "portion" of the grad moves with it.

JET

It's easy in AI, too; just different.

Select the Gradient Tool. ClickDrag on the object.

JET