colour to transparent gradient on the artboard

[RSimpson@adobeforums.com]

Hi folks,

I'm in the middle of creating a logo which I would like to contain a transparency through to the artboard, no layers beneath the gradient. I'm using Illustrator 10 and the image is using the old "logo standing on a polished floor" look but I can't seem to remove the white from the gradient in the reflection.

I've done a search here and found only 1 (I think) possible viable solution involving a clipping mask and a feathered shape but I'm not sure how to go about this.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Robert

[John Mensinger]

Some experiments:

If the color of the floor is lighter than the non-white color(s) in the reflection, change the blend mode of the reflection to Darken.

If the floor is darker than the non-white color(s) in the reflection, change the white in your gradient to black and set the reflection's blend mode to Lighten.

Both those solutions assume the floor color is neither white nor black, which, upon rereading your post, may be unsuitable for what your trying to achieve. Sorry. Try this...

Instead of filling your reflection with a gradient, give it the same fill as the logo, (the reflectED). Now make a copy of the reflection, (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F). Fill the duplicate reflection with a black-to-white gradient. Select both the reflection and it's gradient-filled copy, and choose Make Opacity Mask from the Transparency Palette menu. The reflection will be masked by the gradient; black=transparent, white=opaque.

I hope that helps.

[RSimpson@adobeforums.com]

Hi John and thanks for your reply,

Would it be possible to have the black as the opaque tone? I need the lighter shade to be the transparency. Although I suppose I could always invert the whole image, it's only black and white after all.

Cheers,
Robert

[John Mensinger]

Robert, the black-to-white gradient you apply to the opacity mask (copy of your reflection), won't be visible. It simply dictates the level of visibility, (opacity), of the underlying color(s), (of your original reflection), whatever they may be.

If you follow the steps I laid out, (assuming I didn't create confusion), you'll see what I mean.

[RSimpson@adobeforums.com]

Hi John,

I think I'll be able to handle that, I'll post again on Monday to let you know how I got on with it. Thanks for all your help.

Cheers,
Robert

[RSimpson@adobeforums.com]

Hi John,

I managed to get into the office today to try this out. It worked as far as using it in Illustrator is concerned but when I exported it as an EPS document and opened it in Photoshop the white still appeared. Are you aware of any way around this?

Cheers,
Robert

[RSimpson@adobeforums.com]

Hi John,

Just after I posted that last message I tried opening the original AI file with Photoshop and the desired result was achieved. Many thanks for your help!

Cheers,
Robert

[John Mensinger]

Glad you got it sorted out to your satisfaction, Robert.

Cheers,

John