Adding a gradient to text on a path?

[OhYeahItsAmy]

I have the word GRILL which, as you can see, is curved on a path.

I searched Google and tried every tutorial I could find but none of them are helping me.

I have tried adding a gradient from the gradient options and changing the fill in the appearance menu. Add New Fill is greyed out so I could not use that option and everything in the appearance menu is locked, I guess, (the eye symbols next to each item are greyed out).

Is there any way to add a gradient to this word, in Illustrator, since it is on a path?

[Simmer1 · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Yes, first select the text with the Selection Tool

Then choose Object> Expand

Next make sure Object and fill are checked on the pop-up window and hit ok

Now you are able to apply a gradient to the text

Thanks,

Sim

[Larry G. Schneider]

Or to keep the text live, set the fill at the character level to none and add a new fill, dragging it below the Character line in the Appearance panel. The new fill can be a gradient and you can still edit the text.

[OhYeahItsAmy]

Thank you. This helped a lot. Not only are your steps easy to follow but they worked.

[Monika Gause]

In order for the other method (add new fill) to work, you'll just need to select the text object with the select tool. Instead of selecting the characters.

[Simmer1]

Hi,

My pleasure! I am glad your problem has been solved.

Thanks,

Sim

[rcraighead]

This shows the "Appearance" method allowing Live Text to be retained.