How to Create and Use Gradients in CorelDRAWbyMary Winkler10 Dec 20141 Comment 32

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What You'll Be CreatingIn this tutorial you'll learn how to incorporate various gradient types and styles into an icon design in CorelDRAW. Additionally, you'll become comfortable with the Interactive Gradient Tool, which allows users to manually set the angle, distribution, and placement of a gradient within an object. Finally, we'll use Transparency and MergeMode settings to render objects.1.Linear and Radial GradientsStep 1Let's start with the most common of gradients: theLinear Gradient. I used theRectangle Tool (F6)to draw a rectangle and rounded out the corners in theProperty Bar. In theObject Propertiesdocker, set theOutlineto none and selectFountain Fillfrom theFilloptions.Choose the first square, theLinear Gradient.Click on each color in the gradient slider to change the color in the drop-down menu.Double-clickon the slider to add a color.Double-clickon a color to delete it (you cannot delete the left-most and right-most colors). I set the angle to90so the gradient is horizontal rather than vertical.

Step 2Use theEllipse Tool (F7)to draw a circle that overlaps most of the rounded rectangle. From theFountain Filloption in theObject Propertiesdocker, selectRadial Gradientthis time. Do note thatradial gradients can be applied to any shape.Selectboth shapes and hitIntersectin theProperty Bar.Deletethe circle.As before, set theOutlineto none and change the gradient's colors (since they'll come up as the default black and white). This time, change both colors to white. Note the little glass icon below the gradient slider; this is theTransparencysetting.Selectthe left white color and setTransparencyto100%.

Step 3Let's adjust theRadial Gradientso that it's a pop of highlight rather than just a large circle of white. In theToolbar, you'll find theInteractive Fill Tool (G). This allows you to control the angle, distribution, and placement of your gradients easily, without having to manually setRotate,Skew, or otherTransformationsettings in theFountain Filloptions.1. With theRadial Gradientapplied and the shape selected, use theInteractive Fill Toolto change the placement of the entire gradient.2. If youRotatethe outside square of the gradient andScalethe circle icon (see below), you can change the circular gradient into an ellipse.3. Rotatethe gradient for a second time so that the now elliptical gradient is in the center of the rounded rectangle.4. The final piece of this step has a brightRadial Gradienthot spot in my initial grayLinear Gradient.Group (Control-G)the rounded rectangle with theRadial Gradientshape.

Step 4Using the same linear gradient fromStep 1, I can apply it to an ellipse and create a chain design. Simply draw an ellipse with theEllipse Tool, overlap a smaller ellipse in the center of the first, and hitMinus Frontin theProperty Bar. Use theAttributes Eyedropperto copy the gradient from the rounded rectangle onto the newly made o-ring.Then overlap the rounded rectangle group and the o-ring shape.Copy (Control-C)andPaste (Control-V)the two links to form a large chain.Rotateobjects bydouble-clickingon them with thePick Tool.

2.Layering Gradients and TransparenciesStep 1To further demonstrate the power of gradients inCorelDRAW, let's create a pendant for our chain. Draw a large ellipse with theEllipse Tool. In theObject Propertiesdocker, set theOutlineto3.0 ptand a medium gray color.Set the fill toFountain Fill,Linear Gradient, and the same gradient as we used in the very first step. The gray used for the outline should match one of the colors from the linear gradient (or be within the same gray range). Consider this step to be a simple refresher on applying a simple gradient. Let's move on.

Step 2Draw a smaller ellipse inside the first. Set theFountain Fillto aRadial Gradient. I chose turquoise and creamy yellow as my gradient colors. Use theInteractive Gradient Toolto drag theRadial Gradientto the top left of the ellipse.In theBlend Transitionsection, setAccelerationto-7.0and selectSmoothto the right of theAccelerationbox. These settings change how the colors within the gradient blend together.

Step 3Under theOutlineoptions in theObject Propertiesdocker, set theOutlineto2.0ptand the color to blue. In theTransparencyoptions,selectFountain Fill. Set the gradient toRadialand chooseOutlinefrom the options below theNode Position. This will give the outline a subtler appearance, and shows you how multiple instances of gradients, transparencies, and outlines can create depth in a smalldesign.

3.Piling Up the DetailsStep 1Now that you've had an introduction to the gradient tools withinCorelDRAW, let's see what else we can do with this necklace design. Using theStar Tool, I drew small four-pointed stars as sparkles with thewhiteRadial Gradientfrom our initial ellipse applied. Additionally, I drew blue and yellow ellipses and crescent shapes on the pendant itself.To shade the chain further, I used thePen Toolto drawLinear Gradientshapes that go from0% Transparentto100% Transparentin dark gray and black. I used theInteractive Gradient Toolto adjust the placement of each gradient and set theMerge ModetoMultiplyin theTransparencyoptions.

AdvertisementStep 2For a background, I applied aRadial Gradientto a rounded rectangle that goes from light pink to dark pink at the edges. To add shadows, I merged acopied andpasted instance of the entire chain and pendant design, set the fill color to dark gray,Merge ModetoMultiply, andTransparencyto50%. Additionally, a dark pink to transparentLinear Gradientwas added to an ellipse to create a shadow at the top of the design.I then grouped all of thistogether and placed it inside aPower Clip(similar to aClipping Mask inAdobe Illustrator). To do so, simply draw the shape you want your design clipped to, and go toObject > Power Clip > Place Inside Frame.

Great Job, You're Done!Now that you've had a proper introduction to the gradient tools inCorelDRAW, how far can you push your designs? Use layer gradients and transparent shapes to render your design more fully. If you haven't already, check out these other beginner tutorials for the program: CorelDRAW: Shape Building Basics CorelDRAW: Basic Drawing Tools