- We can use gradients to create some interesting
stylized letter forms.
I'll start by creating outlines
and then come to the object menu compound path release.
Now with my direct selection tool,
I'll hold down the shift key
and click on those two interior shapes to delete them.
Select what remains
and press shift X
so that I switched my fill and my stroke.
Now I'll come and get the line tool.
And for this next step is probably going to be best
if I work in outline view mode
so that I'm as accurate as possible.
It's de-select everything.
And then I'm going to create a line that connects
the two sides of the letter.
Now, in addition to that
I also want to create a circle
that connects to that line
and connects to the left edge of the letter.
And make sure that you work at enlarged view sizes.
You can see that I'm at 672% when I'm doing this
to make sure that that's as accurate as it needs to be.
Now I can switch back to preview.
Select my outlines
and with my shape builder tool.
First of all, trim off this bit, down at the bottom.
Hold down the optional alt key to remove that.
And I will combine these three shapes and these two shapes.
With everything selected, I will remove the stroke.
Come to the fill.
And on my swatches panel I have a gradient that I will apply
to the fill.
Now with my direct selection tool
and I'll press a to access that.
First of all, de-select, re-select
one of the shapes and on the gradient panel,
I'm just going to reverse the direction of the gradient.