center transparency

[GCFL]

I have been trying how to figure out how to make the center if an object transparent with color gradually appearing on the borders. The transarency tool insists on starting with a solid color in the center. If using a square as an example, how do I make the center transparent with the edges graduating to a solid color? Thanks for any help you can provide.

Duane

[handrawn]

you set the level of each end individually with the slider [info bar]

hit the tab key to switch ends

[angelize]

That method will work with a circular or elliptical transparency but working with a square you could accomplish this with an opacity mask

Create your square
clone it and make the clone black
feather the clone and cut it to the clipboard
paste as opacity mask

You can use the page and layer gallery to select the feathered rectangle and adjust the feathering to adjust the graduating transparency.

[GCFL]

Thanks guys. The opacity mask worked great. Not sure I understand your method handrawn. I will play with it a bit. Thanks again.

[handrawn]

like Frances said - its how you use the circular [or eliptical] option of the transparency tool

if you actually want the boundaries of the transparency to be rectangular then her method is a good one - an alternative is to build up a transparency ramp from four cloned linear transparencies one fading in per side

[GCFL]

Got it. Thanks. Here is what I was working on. turned out pretty nice I think. Just a small 125x125 website badge