Paint > Using Graphics in Paint > Changing the Object's Appearance > 
Changing the Object Gradient
 
 
 

All objects, except the fill object, can have a gradient. You can edit a gradient or apply a gradient to an object that does not have one. A selected object with a gradient displays a gradient control bar that you can use to edit the orientation of the gradient.

To edit a colour gradient:

  1. In the Graphics menu, click Edit.
  2. Select the object you want to edit.
  3. Click Attributes.
  4. Select an option from the Gradient box.

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    (a) Gradient box  (b) Noise Level field  

    Select: To:
    Rectangular Gradient Use a rectangular gradient in which colour changes from top to bottom.
    Circular Gradient Use a circular gradient in which colour changes from centre to edge.
    Gradient Off Turn off the gradient and use a solid colour.
  5. Set the colours for the gradient. See Using the Colour Gradient Bar.
  6. To eliminate banding, enable Anti Band.

    Banding normally appears only if you are working at 8-bit colour depth and if the gradient that you apply is stretched.

    TipYou can also set a noise level to the anti-band function. Noise may help when colour bands are very large. Set the value in the Noise Level field to 7 to apply the maximum noise, or lower it to apply less dither/noise. If you set the value to 0, no noise is applied.
  7. Use the gradient control bar to change the object's gradient.

Using the Gradient Control Bar

When you select an object with a gradient, Paint displays a gradient control bar in addition to the object transformation box. The gradient control bar has two handles at each end that show the colours of the gradient. In a rectangular gradient, the bar also indicates the direction of the gradient.

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(a) Gradient control bar  (b) Centre point of gradient  

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(a) Start point of the gradient  (b) Gradient control bar  (c) End point of the gradient  

NoteIf you want to move the transformation box, press M and click the location where you want to move the box.

To use the gradient control bar:

  1. Select an object with a gradient, or add a gradient to an object.

    Paint displays the transformation box and the gradient bar.

  2. Move the handles of the gradient control bar to change the orientation and location of the gradient.

    In a rectangular gradient, this affects the gradient orientation. For example, the default orientation for a rectangular gradient is top to bottom. If you drag one of the handles left or right, you change the orientation to diagonal. If you drag the handles so the gradient bar is horizontal, you get a rectangular gradient with the colours blended from side to side.

    If you select the centre colour handle in a circular gradient, you can move the gradient's centre inside the object or even outside it.

  3. To decrease the amount of one colour visible in an object, move the handle to the edge or outside the object.