Leader Lines to a Callout Box

[gisdude]

Hi all,
I am trying to create a callout box with a leader line that has a "fade" out. It's like a gradient that will fade out to the box. I trying to use a rectangle with a gradient, and "squish" the bottom portion of the box, and have the "fade" out widen at the top of the box.

Basically, should I be doing this using the rectangle tool? Or make a line and try and do it that way? I can email an example of the map I'm trying to emulate.
I am on AI10 and win2K machine.

Any help is appreciated.

TIA :)

[The Repro Kid]

I'm not quite sure what you're going for but if you are trying to have a leader-line appear as though it fades out maybe you can use an opacity mask.

[AdobeAce]

Hi,

:confused:

If you have a sample, please attach.

I think this is a case of "a picture is worth a thousand words."

:)

[scottie]

Us the polygon tool and drag a small triangle. Fill it with a gradient of your choice. Orientate the gradient so it's gadiating in the direction you want. Now, using the open select tool grab two opposing corners. Using the scale tool, scale down the two corners to the width you'd like. Now grab the remaining corner and drag it, not scale, to the length you'd like for your leader. Hint, if you read up on Action you can easily create an action to do this for you automatically. Or, place it in your sysmbol menu. When you want you use it just select your leader and drag it to your drawing. Now you can do with it as you like. Just keep it clean; Santa's watching. I'd post a sample here but I don't know how. Hey Ace, how do you do that?

[AdobeAce]

Hi scottie.

Look below the place you type in your post. See attached screen shot.

Have a great weekend!

Ace

[AdobeAce]

There a size limit. I'll try again. Ace

[scottie]

Thank you very much...

[scottie]

This is the leader I was explaining... of course it could be any gradient or solid fill, with or without a drop shadow. You could put an effect like warp on it, whatever. Then just drop it into the symbol pallet or even the swatch pallet, using the illustrator start-up drawing. Then save and it will always be available to you. Drop in your leaders at different angles therefore saving you having to rotate them... you can drag them longer or shorter and even change the thickness. When I do tech illustrations I use a pallet full of harware, nuts, bolts, washers, nipples, connectors, etc. When ever I created a new item...I drop it in. Saves a bunch of time.

[The Repro Kid]

gisdude,
Here's what I was envisioning when you said a fading leader line. It doesn't take into account all the

'use a rectangle with a gradient, and "squish" the bottom portion of the box, and have the "fade" out widen at the top of the box'

like scotties 'splanation did, but it's what comes to my mind when mentioning fading leader lines.

It's just standard typesetting with a the leader line being covered with an opacity mask.

scottie, I like that "scottie busy at work" artwork of yours. And how did you get your edit footer to reflect the reason for your edit -- the "just a thought" comment?

[scottie]

After I clicked on edit...it was a button on the lower right.

[scottie]

I don't know if the originator even cares...haven't read a reply post, but this is fun and more folks other than the poster learn stuff here; even me. My mind is always open; even when it's not.

I used the blend tool. I found that to avoid the blend "braking" when scaled, expand it. Then place it in your, pick one, swatch pallet. It's now ready for use when needed. (see sample pic)

[scottie]

I just now, all by myself, figured out that you can drop live, editable text into the swatch pallet and then drag it back to your drawing as needed and it's STILL editable. Soooooooo, this means, for instance, you could create a callout box and enter XXXX's or whatever. Then place this text on top of the callout box, give the box a fill of, let's use white. Now drag and drop it into the swatch pallet. Then grab your leader, drag and drop then rotate it as you like. There ya go, a pallet with your callouts and text. I'm just having sooooooo much fun.

[scottie]

Dropped individually into the swatch pallet and then dragged unto the artboard for layout and labeling.... a small example.

[gisdude]

Thanks for all the help and tips. I finally achieved what i was shooting for. Basically, I used the pen tool(s). I put down 2 anchor points and then i used the pen tool to "adjust" the line how I wanted it: very narrow point at the "bottom" of the fade, then I wanted it to "widen" at the top, where the callout out box is.

After I adjusted the size and direction of the line, I used a 50 opacity on the fade, It turned out really well. :)

Thanks again guys, I'll post a jpg of it, It's on my work pc.
:)

[scottie]

I don't get it? Please post a pic, thanks.

[Pusher911]

Hi all,
I am trying to create a callout box with a leader line that has a "fade" out. It's like a gradient that will fade out to the box. I trying to use a rectangle with a gradient, and "squish" the bottom portion of the box, and have the "fade" out widen at the top of the box.

Basically, should I be doing this using the rectangle tool? Or make a line and try and do it that way? I can email an example of the map I'm trying to emulate.
I am on AI10 and win2K machine.

Any help is appreciated.

TIA :)

Try PresentaVId (http://http://presentavid.com/):cool: Its really good tool that allows to create amusing callouts and add them to video or presentation.