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In the following video lesson, we’ll be adding a gradient effect to a flower to give it a more 3-dimensional look.
From the File menu, select 'New'.
Lets type in 'flower' for the title of our document.
and set the New Document Profile to 'Print' then from the Size list select 'Letter'.
Set units to 'Inches' and orientation to landscape.
Afterwards, click OK.
Lets start with the Pen tool in the Tools panel and create our first petal on our artboard.
We’ll click to create our first anchor point, then click and drag on our second anchor point to arch our segment.
Then click again on our second anchor point to remove half of our directional handle,
then click and drag on our first anchor point to curve this segment.
Next we’ll use the Selection tool to select our petal then select the Rotate tool to position it.
To do that, lets click below the tip of the petal to set our reference point.
Then, while holding down the [Alt] key, drag the petal in a circular motion to rotate and copy it.
Click back on our reference point,
then hold down the [Alt] key and click then drag the petal to create another copy.
Click back on our reference point, hold down the [Alt] key and click on the petal then drag it.
Lets repeat a few more times.
Set the reference point, [Alt] key and click then drag.
[Alt] key and click, then drag.
Next we’ll be adding a gradient to the flower.
First we want to select the Selection tool.
Then back in the Tools panel, double-click the Gradient tool and select one of the petals
Then in the Gradient panel, click on the Gradient Fill box.
This will automatically apply a black and white gradient.
To change our gradient setting, double-click on the left Gradient Stop to open the Color panel.
Click on the fly-out menu and select 'RGB'.
In the Color panel, enter the following 'RGB' values '241', '90', and '36'.
Back in the Gradient panel, double-click on the right Gradient Stop.
Click on the fly-out menu and select 'RGB'.
Then in the Color panel, enter 'RGB' values '255', '255', and '255' again.
Position the mouse pointer slightly below the bottom edge of the Gradient Slider,
and when the pointer changes to a white arrow with a plus sign, click to add a new Gradient Stop.
Double-click the center Gradient Stop and enter 'RGB' values '251', '176', and '59'.
Reposition the Gradient Stops as desire by clicking and dragging a stop somewhere along the Gradient Slider.
On the artboard, position the mouse pointer just outside the square shaped Gradient Annotator,
then click and drag to rotate the white side of the gradient towards the center of the petal.
You might have to repeat this until you get the desire effect.
Next with the Selection tool, hold down the [Shift] key to select all the petals on the artboard.
Then with the Eyedropper tool, click the petal that has the gradient fill which will apply the same gradient to all the petals.
With the Gradient tool, rotate the gradient for all the petals
to have the white side of the gradient toward the center of the flower.
Repeat this on all of our petals.
To add another add on to our flower, go back to the Tools panel,
click and hold down the Rectangle tool, then select the hidden Star tool.
On the artboard, click and drag to create a thin star in the center of the flower.
Hold down the [Ctrl] key as you drag which will allow you to modify the shape of the star.
Double-click the Gradient tool, then in the Gradient panel, click on the Type arrow and select 'Radial'.
Double-click the left Gradient Stop and enter 'RGB' values '255', '247', and '169'.
Double-click the center Gradient Stop and enter 'RGB' values '255', '241', and '169'.
Double-click the right Gradient Stop and enter 'RGB' values '215' and '0'.
Drag the Gradient Stops to position them as desired.
You can do this with each stop.
Select the Ellipse tool in the Tools panel.
Hold down the [Shift] key and draw a circle in the center of the flower.
Double-click the Gradient tool then in the Gradient panel, double-click the left Gradient stop,
and enter 'RGB' values '221', '30', and '71'.
Double-click the center Gradient Stop and enter 'RGB' values '237', '61', and '87'.
Then double-click the right Gradient Stop and enter 'RGB' values '243', '127', and '123'.
Drag to position the Gradient Stops as desired.
In the Transparency panel, in the Blending Mode list, select 'Hard Light' and in the Opacity box, type '65'.
Now the last thing to do is draw a stem for the flower.
We’ll be using the Pen tool from the Tools panel.
Create the first anchor point, then click and drag to create our 2nd anchor point.
Then click back on the 2nd anchor point before clicking and dragging our 3rd anchor point.
Then click on the 3rd anchor point before clicking and dragging our 1st anchor point.
Now lets add a gradient to the stem by double-clicking the Gradient tool in the Tools panel.
In the Gradient panel, click the Gradient Fill box, then from the Type list select 'Linear'.
Double-click the left Gradient Stop and enter 'RGB' values '209', '228', and '165'.
Then double-click the center Gradient Stop and enter 'RGB' values '172', '212', and '121'.
Finally, double-click the right Gradient Stop and enter 'RGB' values '118', '184', and '63'.
Lets use the selection tool to resize and position our stem underneath the flower.
Lets create a large enough marque to select both objects.
Next, lets decrease the size of both objects.
Click outside of the selection, then select just the flower and decrease the size even more.
Lets also rotate our flower before positioning it over our stem.
Hold down the [Shift] key to also select the stem and drag both objects to the center of the artboard.
Click anywhere outside the selection to see the final results.