In vector graphics, we can't paint with soft brushes and blur shape edges. Fortunately, the gradient fills allow us to make natural color transitions, and imitate the play of shadow and light. However, the ready-made gradients from the Color Swatches can't solve all our tasks. Let's see how to customize them.

§ 1. Click a gradient-filled shape with the Selection Tool and look at the Color Mixer - it displays the selected gradient's settings (if it doesn't, make sure its "Fill" ("bucket") button is pressed).

§ 2. Double-click one of the gradient color swatches to open the pop-up Swatches panel and chose a color. Note how the gradient appearance has changed. Then change the other swatch color. Note that while pop-up Swatches are open you may click virtually anywhere on your screen, wherever you find a suitable color.

§ 3. To change type of the current gradient - radial to linear or vice versa - just select the proper item from the panel "Type" menu.

§ 4. By moving the color swatches you redistribute gradient colors. For example, move the left swatch to the right to broaden corresponding color range. Also you can swap swatches places to change the gradient direction - left to right for linear gradients or center to edge for radial ones.

§ 5. To add a new color swatch to a gradient, click under the gradient bar. The additional swatches create new color ranges, so you can create much more complex gradients. To delete an unnecessary color swatch, just drag it away.

§ 6. A solid fill can be easily converted to a gradient fill. The program applies the last used gradient parameters that can be edited as needed.

§ 7. With the Color Mixer though, we can't change a linear gradient's angle or fit a radial gradient in an oblong shape. For this kind of work, activate the Gradient Transform Tool and click a gradient fill you want to transform.

§ 8. Use "Width", "Scale", "Angle", "Center Point", and "Focal Point" controls to adjust the gradient's shape, size, angle, and other attributes.