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Blend Basics
Using Smooth Color Blends
to create a 3D effect.
   

In this tutorial, we'll learn about the Make Blend command and the Blend Tool. We'll create a 3D effect, by blending two shapes together.

 
 

Note: Blending grouped objects can produce unpredictable results. And be warned, complicated blends are memory hogs, and can significantly slow down your computer's performance.

For our purposes here, we will use simple shapes with solid fill colors, to make things go easily. But I encourage you to experiment nonetheless. Experiments can often lead to great discoveries.

 
Smooth Color Blend with the Make Blend Command

1. Create two polygon shapes on a layer. Make one a darker shade or color.
   
2. Object > Blend > Blend Options > Smooth Color > OK.
Make sure you have Smooth Color selected in your Blend Options. The orientation doesn't matter with this example.
   
3. Use your selection tool , and drag a selection around both objects.
   

4. Object > Blend > Make Blend.
Use the menu command above, or use the shortcut (Ctrl + Alt + B // Cmd + Option + B).

This may take a few seconds. On slower computers, blends tend to take a while, depending on how complicated the blend is.
   

5.
You can change the Blend Options on the fly.

Select the blend, then go:
Object > Blend > Blend Options > Specified Steps > 3 > OK.
   

6.
You can release the blend back into its seperate shapes again too.

Select the blend, then go:
Object > Blend > Release.
   
Smooth Color Blend with the Blend Tool
1. Create two star shapes on a layer. Make one a darker shade or color.
   
2. Use your selection tool , and drag a selection around both objects.
   

a)

b)

3a. With your blend tool , click on the top point of the small star.

 

 

 

3b. Now click the top point of the big star.
   

4. Ta Da! Here's some other examples too.

   
Try This!
Click on two non-corresponding points, with your blend tool, to get different effects.
   
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