Combination of variable color shapes and transparencies in a web-to-print design can create a variable gradient fill. This tutorial shows a simple linear 2-color gradient. Add more color variations to achieve more complex gradients for web-to-print.

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Lets turn the solid fill background in this template into a variable gradient fill.

Before you start

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• Select the background shape and duplicate it.
• Rename the top copy to Top color and the bottom one to Bottom color to assign variable colors to the shapes.

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In a nutshell, we’re going to construct the gradient by layering two solid fill shapes on top of each other and assign a linear transparency to the top one. This will result in the top shape fading out towards its bottom edge and blending into the color of the shape underneath it.

Transparency

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Select Top color shape, activate CorelDRAW’s Transparency tool and assign Normal linear transparency to the shape by dragging the cursor top to bottom.

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The result should be similar to this, a gradient fill constructed manually by fading out the top shape towards its bottom edge.

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All done!

Users will be able to chose the top and bottom color of the background gradient fill with a color picker.

Download the FREE CorelDRAW template file.

Taking it to the next level

You can also do this to the dummy text it self. Use the same approach and place layered gradient shapes inside the dummy text frame as a PowerClip (Effects/PowerClip/Place Inside Container).

Note. Objects that have effects applied to them cannot be placed inside PowerClip containers so you’ll have to place them inside the container (dummy text frame) first and then assign the transparency.

Download the FREE CorelDRAW template file.