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How-To: Create continuous gradients across text that has been Warped

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
July 19, 2024
4 replies
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Hi,

I'm trying to create a gradient across two lines of text that has been Warped. I can add a gradient fill but it just adds the Gradient Fill to each character individually (bottom example) and I want it to be across the whole word. I can normally do this by creating a Compound Path but because the text has been Warped, this is preventing me from doing that.

Any pointers would be appreciated.

Thanks.

How-to

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Correct answer Monika Gause

Illustrator needs a good block shadow effect comparable to (if not better than) the one that's been in CorelDRAW for many years. Astute Graphics has a decent block shadow plugin for Illustrator, but it only covers basic parallel block shadow effects. It doesn't do anything to mimic simulated perspective effects (like what is seen in the original poster's examples). Corel's filter does that. But the effect tends to generate a LOT of trash that has to be cleaned up after the effect is applied.

I don't know the details of what CorelDRAW's block shadow can do, but AG Blockshadow can make this fake perspective

Monika Gause

Community Expert

In the file you posted here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/applying-a-continuous-gradient-across-text-that-has-been-warped/m-p/14748446#M413536

It is the 3D and Materials effect that causes this. So clearly since you need the scaling of the extrusion you also need that effect. The classic effect will let you have the gradient, but will cause other issues and doesn't have the scaling.

So your only chance is to first generate the extrusion, then expand that as vector and then apply the gradients and stuff.

R

raldred65Author

Known Participant

OK thanks Monika. Are you saying I should try both of these actions, one after the other, both within the Classic Effect tool?

Monika Gause

Community Expert

I would first try out if 3D and materials churns out a usable vector path.

If that does not work, you'll have to create this with the classic 3D effect, then Expand appearance, then apply gradients and stuff. Oh, and there will be a lot to clean up.

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

You may want to share an example file, save as (or rename as) .pdf to attache it to a forum post.

R

raldred65Author

Known Participant

Hi,

I have previously asked this question but no one has been able to answer it satisfactorily yet.

On the PDF file attached, I want to apply the gradient as applied to the top example of text '£5000', to the Warped text that says '£5000 MEGA GIVEAWAY'.

If I add a new Gradient Fill in the Type element of the Appearance tab, all I get is all the Warped text in that Gradient Fill, but within each character, and not across the whole width of the words. See the third item on the page. Iss it possible to add gradients to certain lines and not others when the text is still editable like it is here?

Alternatively, if I highlight all the text and Create Outlines, then create a Compound Path and then apply the Gradient Fill to that shape, I get the bottom example, which also loses all the yellow Stroke outlines.

Any help or comments as to whether this is beyond the limits of Illustrator would be helpful. I'm trying to emulate the sample image (that I'vealso attached) for a client.

Thanks in advance.

Warped_Text.pdf

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

Thanks. At first sight 3D and materials don't like gradient fills and warped text.

I can have a better look later, but now it's dinner time over here.

B

Bobby Henderson

Community Expert

One approach you can take is creating a larger circular-shaped or oval-shaped object, applying a radial gradient to that and then clipping it into the letters. That method might provide a little more fine-tune control over the fill rather than applying a radial fill directly to the letters. Sometimes it can be a pain to work with the gradient annotator in Illustrator.

R

raldred65Author

Known Participant

Would that work with the individual characters as they also have an outline Stroke applied? Ideally, I'd like the outline Stroke to have a continuous gradient aswell but don't know if that's possible within Illustrator. I'm trying to emaulate the below style as closely as possible for a client. I don't know if this might be beyond the capabilities of Illustrator.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

Please show the Layers panel and the Appearance panel of those elements.

R

raldred65Author

Known Participant

Hi, below shows the Layers and Appearance of the top item of editable text.

R

raldred65Author

Known Participant

Create an additional fill with a gradient in the Appearance panel does not work?

Maybe use the Classic 3D effect?

Adding a new Gradient Fill to the [Type] in Appearance just results in the image at the bottom. The individual chracters show the gradient but I wanted the gradient to run from left to right across the whole of the top two lines if possible.

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