Generating gradients in odd shaped paths (Question)

[Brad_Bible@adobeforums.com]

This may be a newbie question so forgive me.

I am using Illustrator 10 and occassionally find the need to create a gradient inside an odd shaped path but can't seem to find an easy way to do this.

For example: I have drawn the outline of the United States (map). I want to create a gradient (single color - say black) that will start at the border of the map and start fading in from 100% to 0%.

However, I want the fade effect to only extend slightly into the map (only covering the states that border the country and the oceans) and need it to stay the same distance from the edge of the path (hence the radial gradient won't work). Any advice here?

Thanks in advance

[Gary_Newman@adobeforums.com]

Old way: Use a blend. Say you want the shape to have a white fill, with gray fading to black at the edges. Give your shape no fill, and a white stroke twice the weight of the distance you'd like it to fade (if you want it to extend in 12 points, give it a 24-pt. stroke).

Copy. Paste in front.

Give this copy a black 1-pt. stroke.

Now do a Blend between the two shapes (it will blend on both sides of the stroke).

Paste in front. Select all three copies and go to Object - Mask - Make Mask.

Paste in Back and cive this copy no stroke, and a fill of white.

New way: Give your shape the fill color you want, and no stroke. With it selected, go to Effects - Stylize - Inner Glow. Change the color to Black, and a Mode of Multiply. Leave it set to Edge, and drag the Blur slider to change the width of the blow.

[Brad_Bible@adobeforums.com]

Thanks Gary! That was exactly what I was trying to figure out.

[Matt_Lorenzi@adobeforums.com]

Gary,
Thanks for the Inner Glow example!
I had never thought there was a way to do this other than making a cumbersome blend.
Matt