Gradient Fill Problems

[JC]

I used the 5-point star autoshape and I filled it with a one color gradient
with a "front center" shading style. If I zoom in on the image (800%), it
gets distorted and the gradient fill does not completely fill the star. How
can I fix this?

 

[Mary Sauer]

I don't feel this is really a problem. Are you getting a proper print. How
large is the star? Does it fill the entire screen? What version Publisher? Have
you thought about creating the effect in a paint program. www.getpaint.net has a
pretty good gradient tool, a free program.

 

[DavidF]

I would imagine that most anything would distort a bit if magnified by
800%...;-)

DavidF

 

[JC]

When I click print preview, I can see that the star will print incorrectly
because it is not completely filled with the gradient fill. I'm using 2003
version of Publisher. The star really is not huge either, so that wouldn't be
the issue. I would just use Illustrator, but it only has linear and radial
gradient fills and the effect that I want is in Publisher only.

 

[JC]

Well that was the magnification that I was viewing it in at the moment. It
actually does not fill it completely in other magnifications as well. So
obviously that's not the issue.

 

[Mary Sauer]

I suspect your problem lies with your video driver. I can look at a gradient
fill at 800% and not see what you are seeing.
Go to the manufacturer's web site of your video/graphics card and look around
for an updated driver.
In Illustrator the gradients should do anything you ask it to do. It is a very
powerful program.
http://veerle.duoh.com/blog/comments/colorful_gradient_effects_in_adobe_illustrator_cs/
http://www.graphic-design-employment.com/adobe-illustrator-gradient.html

 

[DavidF]

Actually I think it is part of the issue. Blow up a 96 dpi image by 800% and
see how bad that looks on your screen or when printed. Have you actually
tried to print the star? What you see at 800% magnification is probably
not going to be noticeable when printed at normal size. I think that was
what Mary was alluding to when she suggested you might not really have a
problem here.

DavidF