fade thingy...

[nina]

does anyone know how to make a fade in illustrator? I used to do it in corel draw where you would have a solid coloured object and make it fade into a transparency, please help!

[AdobeAce]

Hi nina,

Try playing with the Opacity Mask feature under the Options Arrow menu of the Transparency palette.

- Draw two overlapping objects. The front object should contain a Gradient or Halftone.

- With both objects selected, choose "Make Opacity Mask" under the Options menu in the Transparency palette.

- Now try Checking or Unchecking CLIP and/or INVERT MASK in various combinations until you have the desired effect.

A word of caution :eek:
This a a very finicky feature. You can click on the Mask (top object) or the Bottom object in the Transparency palette and move each independently by clicking on the Link symbol between them. But at some point, it's possible to lose this ability to edit (usually when you least expect it and of course need it).

Hope this helps!

Ace

[nina]

thank you very much, thats exactly what I was loooking for, help was greatly appreciated! :D

[rock]

:confused: I didn't know that "fade thingy" is just what I need, but unfortunately it is not working for me. My object with the gradient disappears, and the edge I am trying to blend remains opaque. My gradient is light in value. Is that relevant? What I need to do is make the edge of the gradient-filled object disappear so if/when the graphic is printed on colored paper the white edge is not sharp and visible. HELP!
Thanks,
Rock

[AdobeAce]

:confused: I didn't know that "fade thingy" is just what I need, but unfortunately it is not working for me. My object with the gradient disappears, and the edge I am trying to blend remains opaque. My gradient is light in value. Is that relevant? What I need to do is make the edge of the gradient-filled object disappear so if/when the graphic is printed on colored paper the white edge is not sharp and visible. HELP!
Thanks,
Rock

Hi Rock,

The Fade Thingy (Opacity Mask) is made up of TWO parts. A color object and a dark-to-light gradient (or halftone) above it above it which becomes the Mask. (See the sample in my post above.)

Select both objects and in the Options menu of the Transparency palette, choose Make Opacity Mask.

Ace

[GuyB]

Here it is again, Rock :

- draw your shape;
- fill with a gradient based upon 100% black to 0% black;
- copy and "refill" this element with 100% of desired color;
- paste the copied b/w gradient in front (command + f);
- select both and make a inverted clipped opacity mask through the transparency flyout menu.