How to create a line with a gradient fill

[ryanmarsh]

Rik posted a feature request in the Dear Xara Forum for the ability to create to give a line a gradient fill. While Xara can not do this the way other programs do there are ways to do this in Xara software.

Feel free to share your methods here!

[gwpriester]

1. Convert the line to shape (Arrange menu).
2. Apply a fill.

[handrawn]

as Gary but duplicate/clone line first [you may want to edit it and recreate the fill later]

make an art brush [limited but should work for some simple cases]

[Emmeric]

I just draw a box, stretch it out, thin it down to a line and fill...

Am I too simple?

[gwpriester]

Emmeric - If it is a straight line, OK. But what if the line is curved?

Converting a line to shape is much simpler. Determine the shape. Increase or decrease the line width. Convert to Shape. Apply fill.

[Lorrain]

Once a brush is created, its application to a circle, for example, is not perfect, none of the three cap options gives a satisfactory result, unless I am missing something.

[Egg Bramhill]

HD's solution of using an art brush is the way I'd go about it.

[ss-kalm]

Give the line a flat bevel and then add the gradient to the bevel. Make the line have a none thickness and adjust the bevel to suit.

That way the line is still editable as a line with the shape editor tool.

Gradient Filled Line.xar

[Jonopen]

Once a brush is created, its application to a circle, for example, is not perfect, none of the three cap options gives a satisfactory result, unless I am missing something.

Hi Lorrain, have you tried your brush with different art brush scaling options?

Repeat along stroke (with any line cap) seemed to work for me.

[Lorrain]

Hello Jonopen,

Thank you for your comment, as I am in the middle of discovering Xara, I suspected that I had missed something! I didn't pay attention to the "Edit Brush" button, I feel a little stupid! Repeat along stroke is the solution, thank you again for taking the time to answer, have a good day.