How can I add a gradient to one side of a path?

[pfudi]

I use Illustrator CS6 and Windows 10.

I have a path and I like to add under or over a gradient how follows the path?

Like in the design below:

How can I do this?

Thank you very much for replay

Barbara

[Ton Frederiks]

You can create a variable width stroke profile with the stroke only above or below the path.

[pfudi]

Thank you very much for reply!

But, where I can find this "stroke profile"? I use CS6 and not the newest one!

[Ton Frederiks]

Variable width strokes were introduced in CS5. To create them you must use the width tool (Shift W) and save the profile in the extended Stroke panel.

[pfudi]

Thank you, I found it.

I like to do exactly what I see in your first image, the wave one.

There is an exercise for the variable width strokes? I try it several times, but I don't know how to use it correctly. And I don't have the popup "Width Point Edit".

[Ton Frederiks]

I get the width point edit when I double click a point with the width point tool.

[pfudi]

I did a U-form and color it with the width stroke and set one side 0 and the other 30 px, below it is dark and the tips are light.
How can I set it, so that, like in your picture, the gradient of the U-form follows the U-path?

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

As an example, see this file:

https://shared-assets.adobe.com/link/9deba0c7-d641-413b-5105-82306098f35a

[pfudi]

Thank you very much for the link.

I downloaded it. Yesterday it didn't work, I don't know why.

This morning it works very well, I don't know why. I found what I was looking for.

Thank you very much for helping me!

Have a great day.

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear that helped.