Gradient with Transparency

[PaigeOne]

How does one go about setting a gradient from a color to transparency in Illustrator? I can't figure it out!

[Scott Weichert]

Illustrator won't allow transparent gradient stops. In order to take a gradient from color to transparent you must use an Opacity Mask.

Create your gradient. Then create another gradient on top of that that mimics how you want transparency to work - black means hide - white means show. Select both gradients and from the Transparency Palette flyout menu choose "Make Opacity Mask."