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Freeform Gradients in Adobe Illustrator CC 2019

As usual, we know that when we double click on the gradient tool or when we navigate to Window>Gradient, it pops up the gradient panel, and when we click on the gradient bar, it fills the color either in linear or radial mode. Apart from these 2, the new update is freeform gradient.

One of the new features in Illustrator CC 2019 is named Freeform Gradients (Diffuse Gradients). The new Freeform Gradients allow you to create natural and photo-realistic gradients. Gradients can be created using points or lines. All you need to do is to click on the canvas to add points which can be moved and adjusted.

In other words, we can call it simplified mesh.

There are 2 methods to deal with the freeform gradient, either you will use points or lines.

If you are using points, it will generate a new color stop on the object with every click and when you double click on that stop, directly on the shape, it will give you live editing on the shape itself, which can be dragged in the desired direction, and if you do not need one of the stops just click on the trash button.

When you use the line, it will give you controls as if you are moving the colors from one point to another with direct selection or pen tool or anchor tool. Remember, we are not talking about these tools, but the controls it gives are like this.

Mask literally means to hide. We already know about clipping mask where you draw a path over the image or shape and then hide the unwanted areas.

Tip: You can also use Effect > Stylize> Feather which will soften the edges of the shape or image which is inside the mask, or otherwise. (The result will be a raster, the max is 250pt)

In the terminology of masking, black means to hide, white means to reveal, gray means to partially hide.

1. I pasted two images on the artboard, one on the top and another at the bottom, they are partially overlapping each other horizontally in the center.
2. On the top image, we will draw a shape (rect) which will cover that entire image and we will cut that shape.
3. We will still keep the top image selected and will go to Window > Transparency SHIFT+CTRL+F10
4. Click on the top right corner of the transparency panel and click on Make Opacity Mask, you will now see a tiny black thumb which accompanies the thumb of the image in the transparency panel. You will also see a tiny chain or link icon which is connecting both of the thumbs. At the same moment you will see that the image is no longer visible and you have 3 buttons, release, clip and invert.
5. You will click on the black thumb and you will go to Edit > Paste in Front
6. Now go to Gradient panel and confine the gradient only to black and white and you can change the angle per the need, for example 90 degree. How much portion of your image is visible within the mask is decided by the volume of black and white in the gradient panel, if you want to reveal more you will obviously drag the stop of the white slider in the gradient ramp more.
7. If you want to totally hide the black area, you will click on the black stop in the gradient panel and you will make its opacity 0%.
8. Remember till now you are in the mask mode, so you have to exit this mode by clicking again on the thumb of your image in the transparency panel.
9. You can also disable the opacity mask to temporarily hide the applied effect.
10. You can release the opacity mask if you no longer need it.
11. Once you are done with all the above steps and you exit the opacity mask mode, if you feel the need to again edit the mask, you have to again go to the transparency panel and click on the mask thumb and edit the gradient.
12. There can be masks inside the mask, for example first you may need to apply clipping mask, and then you use opacity mask and then again if you feel then need to apply clipping mask you may do so, this can be done as many times as you need. When you need to access the inside portion or the subject, you may double click on the masked object. You can also use the direct selection tool to select the objects inside the mask.

You can increase or decrease the opacity of the shadow, can decide the distance between the target shape and the shadow (which is called offset) and can also decide the blurness, as well as color/darkness of the shadow. This is further controllable through the apperance panel.

Hello to all!

How's everything? Diwali is near but no fireworks :(

Yes, we have to avoid to reduce pollution so I think why not we try to illustrate fireworks on Adobe illustrator. It is so easy even a small kid can do it. You are not believing. OK fine, let's start the tutorial.

What will we use in this tutorial?

• Pen tool
• Gradients. That's it.

Step by Step tutorial now:

• Open a New Document (CTRL/CMD + N)
• Select the Rectangle Tool (M) and make sure the colour is set to black and cover up your artboard.

1. Take your Pen Tool (P) and create a line with a slight arc. To start a new line just hit the Enter key to stop the pen tool from creating another segment. Continue to do this until you make it all the way around in a circle.
   
2. Now that you have your lines in place Select all of your strokes go into your Stroke Panel and on the very bottom of the Stroke Panel, there is a Profile Dropdown. It has different options of line thickness. Select the one where it’s pointed on the end and fat in the centre. Once you have the stroke profile and depth that works for you Expand your strokes OBJECT -> EXPAND
   
   
3. With your fireworks still selected let’s Group (CTRL/CMD + G) it all together. Now go into your Gradient panel and in the Type dropdown make sure to make it Radial. It is where you can be creative with your colours make sure your inner colour is white, and the exterior colours are something somewhat bright! The possibilities are endless!
   
4. Once you have the colours, you like you can copy and past the firework graphic and change your colours in the Gradient Panel. And there you have it!

Wishing you all to have a colourful joyful Diwali . Keep Chilling