D2 Tutorial 1: How to Create a Gradient Swatch in Illustrator

1. Open a new document as usual.

2. Type in the text using the Type tool (the "T" box highlighted in red) in the left-hand toolbar.

3. Click on the selection tool (the black arrow).

4. Click on Type > Create Outlines. If you do not do this, you won't be able to change gradient colors! You will end working with boring black, white, and gray.

5. Click on Window > Gradient. The gradient toolbar should pop up on the right side of the screen.

6. To create your gradient swatch, click on any of the box-looking slides (highlighted in red) at the bottom of the gradient bar (highlighted in blue).

7. There are many different ways you can change the colors in your gradient swatch.

a. Click on "Swatches" (highlighted in red) and select a color.

b. Adjust the opacity of a color.

c. Adjust the amount of any color you choose by moving any of the slides along the gradient bar.

d. There is also the "Colors" option (highlighted in red). You can also adjust how much gray you want in your gradient swatch.

e. Adjust the type (linear or radial, highlighted in red), angle (highlighted in blue), and/or location (highlighted in green).

There's so much you can do!!!

8. To save your swatch, click on the down arrow next to the word "Type" (highlighted in red) and then on the floppy disc button (highlighted in blue).

9. Right beneath the top toolbar on the left side of the screen, click on the down arrow on the fill tool (highlighted in red). The swatches should automatically scroll down and the swatch you created should be highlighted in white. To name your swatch, click on "New Swatch" (highlighted in blue). A "New Swatch" dialog box should pop up.

10. In the "New Swatch" dialog box, type any word(s) into the white box next to "Swatch Name." Click OK.

And voila!