Editing Multiple Gradients with One Gradient Annotator

[johnf52236110]

Hi -

I have been doing a Lynda Tutorial, with their files (attached). I am unable to edit multiple gradients with one Annotator, despite closely following the instructions. I looked at the Adobe User Guide, and it had the following, which is the same as the Lynda tutorial. I will annotate the below in CAPS with what did not work for me.

Apply gradients across multiple objects

To apply a linear or a radial gradient for multiple objects, do the following:

• Apply gradient on one object. Select the other objects that you want to fill with the same gradient. To do this, click the Selection tool from the toolbar. Hold the Shift key and click the objects that you want to fill with the same gradient.
• Select the Color picker tool from the toolbar and click the gradient. Then, select objects on which the selected gradient is to be applied.
• Click the Fill icon in the Gradient panel, toolbar, or Properties panel.

Using the Gradient tool, do one of the following:

• To create a gradient with one Gradient annotator, click anywhere on the canvas where you want the gradient to start, and drag to where you want the gradient to end. I DID THIS AND MULTIPLE ANNOTATORS APPEARED, NOT JUST ONE FOR ALL GRADIENTS.
• To create a gradient with a Gradient annotator for every selected object, click in the artboard where you want the gradient to start, and Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (macOS) to where you want the gradient to end. You can then adjust the different gradient sliders for the different objects. (Multiple gradient sliders are only created for simple paths.)

[Ton Frederiks]

When multiple gradient annotators appear, what happens if you start dragging the Gradient tool?

[johnf52236110]

Thanks for the response. Each tool edits each gradient field chosen; meaning, I need to edit each on its own. The video shows the separate tools being replaced by one slider, that contours the gradient for each path. Perhaps I am not understanding this video: https://www.lynda.com/Illustrator-tutorials/Editing-multiple-gradients-time/124101/146060-4.html?aut...

[Monika Gause]

"I DID THIS AND MULTIPLE ANNOTATORS APPEARED, NOT JUST ONE FOR ALL GRADIENTS."

But are the gradients unified? Do they look like one?

Because if so: it worked.

There won't be one gradient annotator for multiple objects. That just won't happen because Illustrator doesn't work like that. It will always create multiple annotators, but it will unify how the gradients look.

[johnf52236110]

Hmm - that's not the way Deke's video on Lynda looked like. One slider for several chosen gradients. Perhaps I mistook what I saw and heard.

[Ton Frederiks]

Each one has its own gradient, they are just on top of each other.

[Monika Gause]

We certainly cannot explain you something we haven't even seen.

Are you sure he applied the gradient to multiple shapes (and not to a compound path or to a fill he applied to a group)?

Several possibilities.

[johnf52236110]

And, thank you for your response. Here is the video that is causing me confusion: https://www.lynda.com/Illustrator-tutorials/Editing-multiple-gradients-time/124101/146060-4.html?aut...

[Ashutosh_Mishra]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out. I hope your issue is resolved now. We'd appreciate if you can mark the earlier response correct. You may also share your solution if you did something else to resolve the problem. This will help other users with the similar situation.

If you still have issues, let us know we'll be happy to help.

Regards,

Ashutosh

[johnf52236110]

The issue still exists. It has not been fixed.

[RoelofVenter]

I am also struggling with this. We have two separate shapes, but both have the exact same gradient applied. According to the video, I should be able to edit (change the colour) of BOTH gradients at the same time and yet, the edit is only applied to one of the gradients, leaving me to try to replicate the process on the other gradient.

The below picture shows the two selected objects, each with their own gradient. The black has been changed to green on BOTH at the same time. Why can't I do that?

[Monika Gause]

Please show a screenshot of what you have on your screen

And describe what exactly you are doing.

[RoelofVenter]

[image: image.png]
Example from the instruction video with both shapes selected and the colour
changing on both gradients at the same time. This was on a much older
version of Illustrator.
[image: image.png]
In my version I have the two yellow eyeball shapes selected, each with a
duplicate of the same gradient. When the swatches flyout opens and I click
on the white, nothing happens.

I have discovered this WORKAROUND: When the swatches flyout opens, DRAG and
DROP the swatch into the appropriate slider. Then CLICK on that slider.
That seems to activate the command and change the colour on BOTH the
sliders at the same time. Clunky, but at least it works.





Roelof Venter

[Monika Gause]

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