How to fill using gradients

[stewart3000]

How to add a background color fading off into another color and also is there a way of choosing which angle or coming from the middle etc?

[iamtheblues]

This is what the PSP X help Files have to say:

To choose a gradient
1. On the Materials palette, do one of the following:

• To choose a foreground gradient, click the Foreground and Stroke Properties box.

• To choose a background gradient, click the Background and Fill Properties box.

The Material Properties dialog box appears.

2. Click the Gradient tab.

3. Click the gradient drop-list to view thumbnails of the available gradients.

If necessary, choose a gradient category from the Category drop-list containing the desired gradients.

4. Click a gradient thumbnail.

The drop-list closes and the gradient name appears above it.

5. Choose one or more of the following options:

• Style — lets you choose a Linear , Rectangular , Sunburst , or Radial gradient

• Angle — specifies the angle or direction of the gradient, from 0 to 359 degrees. This option applies to linear, rectangular, and radial gradients only.

• Repeats — sets the number of times (from 0 to 100) to repeat the gradient pattern

• Invert — inverts the colors of the gradient

• Center Point — determines the horizontal and vertical coordinates of the point from which the gradient disperses or radiates. The distance is measured as a percentage of the fill area’s width. You can change the center point to create fills in circles or other shapes in which the center of the gradient is not at the center of the object. This option applies to rectangular, sunburst, and radial gradients only.

• Focal Point — determines the horizontal and vertical coordinates of the point where the foreground color of the gradient begins. The distance is measured as a percentage of the fill area’s width. You can change the focal point to create fills in circles or other shapes in which the effective light source is not at the center of the object. This option applies to rectangular and sunburst gradients only, and is available only when the Link center and focal points check box is unmarked.

• Link center and focal points — assigns the same values to the center and focal points. Unmark the check box to edit the focal point separately from the center point. This option applies to rectangular and sunburst gradients only.

6. Click OK.


You can also
Edit the gradient colors, transition points, and opacity Click Edit to display the Gradient Editor dialog box. For more information about editing gradients, see "Editing gradients".
Save this gradient as a swatch that you can access later Click Add to swatches, type a name, and press Enter.
Access recently used materials Right-click in a properties box on the Materials palette to open the Recent Materials dialog box.
Apply the current materials to all tools On the Materials palette, mark the All tools check box. If you unmark this check box, the current materials are applied to the active tool only.




• You can also move the center point by dragging the control needle or crosshairs shown in the gradient drop-list. If you unmark the Link center and focal points check box, you can move the focal point by dragging the crosshairs on the gradient.

Saludos,
Bob.

[iamtheblues]

The palettes for gradients, fills and patterns are like the attached graphic,
Hope this helps.
The help files in Paintshop Pro are very good, and will tell you all you need to know about the basics.
Saludos,
Bob.