Illustrator 10: Gradient Tool

[Blind Zero]

I may be a little slow but it seems to me that the Gradient Tool in Adobe Illustrator is a bit difficult to use. I can't even figure out how to change the colors on it. lol Can someone give me a hand?

[theKeeper]

Hey i know exACTly how you feel BZ! I've always thought that myself.

To change the colours you simply select them by changing the fore/background swatches while the Gradient tool is selected. You can also change the colours in the Gradient Palette while the tool is active. If you don't see that pallete look under the Window or View menu. Plus... in the swatches palette there are some default gradient styles created.

[nitrobutler]

The default colors are blk/wht (which is a pain IMO).
With an object selected and you click on the gradient button (at the bottom of the tools palette) your object is automatically filled with a blk/wht gradient.
To change these colors click on the gradient preview in the gradient palette, then the color stops will appear.
Then you must change the color mode in order to use color(crazy isn't it!) Go to the color palette click on that little arrow button and choose what color mode you want to work in (ie. RGB,CMYK etc.)
Then click once on a color stop you want to change, Now here comes the crazy part... if you click on a color, either Color bar or Swatches the entire object will turn to that color! RATS!
You must hold the ALT key then click on a color to only effect that color stop!!
Just my 2 cents ;\

[Blind Zero]

Thanks for the help. I got it all figured out even though it was a pain in my behind.