Modify gradients

Last updated on Sep 11, 2025

Learn how to adjust gradient colors, angle, opacity, and placement in Illustrator to create smooth blends and precise effects.

You can modify a gradient’s fill color, angle, opacity, location, and origin from the Gradient Panel. Modifying gradients lets you control how colors blend across shapes, helping you create depth, lighting effects, or smooth transitions that make artwork look more polished and dynamic.

Before you begin

Make sure your artwork has a gradient fill applied

Select your artwork, and then select the Edit Gradient button from the Gradient panel.

Example of modifying a Linear Gradient

A. Shades of the same color B. Two different colors C. Modified angle D. Resized annotator E. Changed location

Example of modifying a Radial Gradient

A. Two different colors B. Changed origin within the dotted ring C. Changed location of Gradient Annotator D. Changed aspect ratio E. Changed mid-point location

With the Gradient panel open, you can control how your gradient looks and behaves. By editing color stops, adjusting opacity, or repositioning the Gradient Annotator, you can change the flow, direction, and depth of the gradient in your artwork.

Gradients are defined by color stops. You can change them to control which colors appear in your gradient. To add or remove color stops:

  • Hover the pointer on below the Gradient Slider and select it when you see + symbol below the pointer to add a color stop.
  • Select a color stop and press the Delete key or select Delete in the Gradient panel to remove it.

To modify color, double-click the color stop and select a color you want to apply from the Color panel.

A color stop on the object is currently selected. The Color panel shows options for Color, Swatches, and Color Picker, along with a variety of color swatches to choose from.
Pick a color and apply it between your selected color stops.

A. Color stop B. Color C. Swatches D. Color Picker E. Swatch colors 

To adjust the gradient origin and size, do the following:

  • Origin: Drag the start point of the Gradient Annotator to reposition the gradient's starting point.
  • Size: Drag the endpoint closer or further from the start to change the gradient size.
  • To rotate the Gradient Annotator for a Linear gradient, hold the end point of the Gradient Annotator. When the circular arrow symbol appears, drag the annotator in any direction to rotate it. A dotted rectangle appears, showing the new position of the annotator.
  • To rotate the gradient annotator for Radial gradients, place the pointer on the end point of the Gradient Annotator and drag when the circular arrow symbol appears.

    When the pointer is within the radius range of the Radial gradient, a dotted ring appears. You can rotate this ring along its axis to adjust the angle of the gradient. Two points also appear on the ring—click one to change the shape of the ring (aspect ratio) and the other to adjust its size (spread of the gradient).

To modify color stops positions, drag color stops along the Gradient Slider.

Tip

By changing the midpoint, you can adjust the color division between the two color stops. 

To modify the gradient angle, rotate the Gradient Annotator on the artwork.

To modify the color stop opacity, select a color stop and then adjust the Opacity slider

The Gradient panel displays the Opacity option highlighted for the selected color stop.
Adjust the transparency of individual gradient stops by selecting a stop and changing its

Note

When a color stop has an opacity value less than 100%, the color appears in the checkered form in the Gradient Annotator.

To reverse the colors in the gradient, select Reverse Gradient  in the Gradient panel.