Using Director > Vector Shapes and Bitmaps > Defining gradients for vector shapes |  |

Defining gradients for vector shapes

You can use controls in the Vector Shape window or Lingo to specify the type of gradient, how it is placed within a shape, and how many times it cycles within the shape. A gradient for a vector shape shifts between the fill color and the end color you define. You can create linear or radial gradients. Changes you make to vector shape gradients have no effect on gradients for bitmaps in the Paint window. You can fill only closed vector shapes with gradients.

To define a gradient for a vector shape:

1 | Create a closed vector shape in the Vector Shape window.
2 | Click the Gradient button.
3 | To choose colors for the gradient, click the color box on the left side of the Gradient Colors control and choose a starting color from the Color menu. To choose the ending color, repeat this step using the color box on the right side of the Gradient Colors control.

4 | Choose Linear or Radial from the Gradient Type pop-up menu at the top of the window.
5 | To define the number of times the gradient should change colors within the shape, use the Cycles control.
6 | To specify the rate at which the gradient shifts between colors, use the Scale control to enter a percentage.
| A setting of 100% uses the entire width or height of the shape to gradually shift colors. Lower settings make the shift more abrupt. For settings over 100%, the end color is reached at a theoretical location beyond the edges of the shape.
7 | To rotate the gradient within the shape, use the Angle control to enter the number of degrees.
| This setting affects only linear gradients.
8 | To offset the gradient within the shape, enter X Offset (horizontal) and Y Offset (vertical) values.

To specify a gradient with Lingo:

Set the `fillColor`, `fillDirection`, `fillMode`, `fillOffset`, `fillScale`, `gradientType`, and `endColor` cast member properties. See `fillColor`, `fillDirection`, `fillMode`, `fillOffset`, `fillScale`, `gradientType`, and `endColor`.