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abreanna
abreanna
Participant
February 3, 2020
Answered

When applying gradients to text, it turns it black

  • February 3, 2020
  • 26 replies
  • 92970 views

When applying color to my type, color works just fine in the appearance panel however, when I go to add a gradient, it turns my text black. I also tried using the bottom panel, as seen in the photo and it still does the same thing. 

Please help 😞

Thank you

 

    Correct answer derekwatson

    Go to the Appearance Panel and Add a new Fill, set this to be the gradient you want then adjust angle etc, simple, works perfectly and text is still editable.

    26 replies

    derekwatson
    Community Expert
    derekwatsonCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    September 25, 2026

    Go to the Appearance Panel and Add a new Fill, set this to be the gradient you want then adjust angle etc, simple, works perfectly and text is still editable.

    Derek Watson
    smooth_listener5EDF
    Participant
    April 14, 2026

    I think I MIGHT have a solution!!! I converted the letters to outlines AND THEN “Expanded Appearance” (in the Object menu). Then I made all the letters into a compound path (which made them invisible), then I filled with a single solid color, and finally applied my gradient and it got rid of the dark color that wasn’t supposed to be there.

    Anushka22905756h564
    Participant
    January 10, 2023

    It's easy. Select the Selection tool (v) and use it to click on your text box. Then right click. Press  "

    Create Outlines". Voila problem solved.😊

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 10, 2023
    quote

    It's easy. Select the Selection tool (v) and use it to click on your text box. Then right click. Press  "

    Create Outlines". Voila problem solved.😊


    By @Anushka22905756h564

     

    The solution has already been posted and it's possible without outlinin the text.

    pixxxelschubser
    Community Expert
    pixxxelschubserCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 3, 2020

    @Katie_Houghton

    Read my posting again.

    😉

     

    without any outline:

     

     

    @Ton It's really better to remove the default black Fill from the characters before applying the gradient to the type. That is the clean solution. Otherwise you will get a tiny "shadow stroke" around the characters.

     

    Ton Frederiks
    Community Expert
    Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 3, 2020

    You are absolutely correct, remove the fill from the characters and only apply it to the type object.

    Otherwise you can get the top result when applying a transparent gradient.

      M993640088
      Known Participant
      April 26, 2022

       

      I can't get this to work either, and have followed the instructions outlined, applying Fill to the object.  Text is always black when a gradient is applied to Stroke, Fill, or Stroke & Fill in the Appearance Panel.  Even when starting over or resetting all to None to apply a gradient again.  

       

      So why can others get it to work?  What is the underlying thinking and design behind the way that it works, so I can figure out what is different here.  

       

       

      Katie Houghton
      Inspiring
      February 3, 2020

      Type in Illustrator can not have a gradient unless you go to an outline. You can also just use a clipping path to apply the gradient. InDesign has less complex gradients so it can have gradient on type.

      Ton Frederiks
      Community Expert
      Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 3, 2020

      Type in Illustrator can not have a gradient unless you go to an outline.

      Not true. See the solutions above.

        pixxxelschubser
        Community Expert
        pixxxelschubserCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        February 3, 2020

        To do:

        1. set the Fill in Appearance Panel to [None]
        2. double click on [Type] in Appearance Panel
        3. add a new Fill (Options in Appearance Panel in the top right corner)
        4. set your gradient to that Fill
          Amanda3016138543hc
          Participant
          May 30, 2023

          This is where I was stuck. Thank you so much for the simple explanation and effective guidance!

          Ton Frederiks
          Community Expert
          Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          February 3, 2020

          Don't select your text with the Type tool.

          Use the Selection arrow to select the text object.

          In the Appearance panel, add a new fill and change that fill to a gradient.

            PabloVCazares
            Participant
            February 2, 2021

            Hey there, I just tried this and it didnt work - had the same issue where the text turned black whenever I tried to select a gradient in the Appearance panel. So in case it doesn't work for anyone else, my solve was putting my black text over a box of the gradient I want, and I just it ctrl+7 to mask it. Worked like a charm.

              Marley C.
              Inspiring
              May 16, 2022

              THANK YOU. No idea why this function suddenly isn't working, but glad I found a fix!

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