gradient fills

[mmreed]

ok.. maybe its just because my eyesight is going bad, and Im overworked... but I cannot figure out how to do something:

I want to have a shape... for example a "S" type shape... I want to do a gradient fill where the center line of the entire objject is the brightest area and it fades to the gradient color at the shape outline... this would give almost a neon sign effect. I can get the gradients to fill linear and radial... but thats it...

is there a way to gradient fill an object where it follows the shape to the outline?

If im not making any sense, let me know via email.. I can send you an example of what im trying to achieve.

thanks

[mmreed]

the best way to describe an object that this would appear in is a comet...one that isnt 'cartoonish' but more of a gradient lighting flare.

[Bob Hartzell]

Swf format only supports radial and linear not what you are describing. We are constrained by the limitations of swf.

[fwhilton]

The only way to get the look you want is use a paint program such as PhotoShop etc...

There is one "tidious way" to do it in KM.

1) Copy your text. Set the transpency to 100%
2) Paste a copy on top to make it a little bit bigger. Set the transpaency to 80% (or whatever)
3) Do the same as above until you get to 0% transparency.

You can have as many object transparency increments until you reach the solid color.

You may have to convert text to points so you can adjust the out edges of the text to look correct.

Bascially all that you are doing is having several layers of the text spreading out to the 100% transparency.

This is also a good shading effect too.

Do you understand what I am saying??

[mmreed]

Frank -

thanks... I was doing something pretty close to that... but it wasnt giving me exactly the look I am after... with the limitations of swf... I think my only option like you said is a photoshop image.

I am starting to realize that to get high end looks, it is a quite tedious process. <grin>

Originally posted by fwhilton
The only way to get the look you want is use a paint program such as PhotoShop etc...

There is one "tidious way" to do it in KM.

1) Copy your text. Set the transpency to 100%
2) Paste a copy on top to make it a little bit bigger. Set the transpaency to 80% (or whatever)
3) Do the same as above until you get to 0% transparency.

You can have as many object transparency increments until you reach the solid color.

You may have to convert text to points so you can adjust the out edges of the text to look correct.

Bascially all that you are doing is having several layers of the text spreading out to the 100% transparency.

This is also a good shading effect too.

Do you understand what I am saying??

[johnie]

Actually most raster image editors will work. I think JASC Web DRAW preview edition has this effect, that is if its still free. I Know Mediachance real draw, Star Draw, Corel Photopaint, The Gimp, and I even think Paint Shop has this effect. You can download Web Draw and export as a flat image instead of SVG so it will go into Koolmoves. Also, if I'm not mistaken MS Office 2000 and XP (if you own them) has an effect like this. All you have to do is draw it and export as web and sellect use PNG instead of VML.