Dynamic gradients

OpenOffice.org 2.x Draw Guide

Chapter 4: Changing Object Attributes

< Previous Section

Next Section >

• Toolbars and menus
• Editing lines and borders
• Editing the inside (fill) of an object
• Advanced area fill options
• Shadows and transparency
• Using styles
• Special effects
• Distorting an image
• Dynamic gradients

< Previous Page

Next Page >

You can control transparency gradients in the same manner as color gradients. Both types of gradient can be used together. With a transparency gradient the direction and degree of an object’s fill color changes from opaque to transparent (in a regular gradient, the fill changes from one color to another, but the degree of transparency remains the same).

If you have assigned transparency to an object with a color fill, you can control the transparency by clicking on the transparency icon . To define a transparent gradient, select an object, choose a transparency fill from the Line and Filling toolbar, The transparency icon is now active. When you click on this icon, a dashed line connecting two squares appears on the object. Move the two squares to modify the gradient. You can define the direction of the gradient (vertical, horizontal, or at any angle) and the spot at which the transparency begins.

In the same manner, to define a regular gradient, select an object, choose a gradient fill from the Line and Filling toolbar, The gradient icon is now active. When you click on the gradient icon, a dashed line connecting two squares appears on the object, just as it does for a transparency gradient.

In both cases a dashed line connecting two small squares appears on top of the object. Click outside the object to set the gradient.

If the transparency and gradient icons are not visible, you can display them using View > Toolbars > Mode. Moving the squares will have different effects depending on the type of gradient. For example, for a linear gradient, the start and end squares of the gradient will always be situated to either side of the center point of the object.

The three examples in Figure 35 demonstrate how the type and degree of transparency can be controlled.

	A single color object and a transparency gradient, covering part of the underlying object. The gradient can be dynamically adjusted, made more transparent by moving the white square or more opaque by moving the black square.
	An object with a color gradient, completely covering another object. The gradient is adjusted dynamically by moving the squares – the color of the square relating to the increase or decrease in that color.
	An object with both color and transparency gradients, partly covering the underlying object.

Figure 35: Dynamic gradients.