How To Create A Transparent Gradient Mask with Illustrator

In this tutorial I’ll be demonstrating how you can create a transparent gradient mask with Illustrator using an Opacity Mask. This would be useful if you’re trying to apply a gradient of transparency to an image, an object, or a grouping of objects.
The opacity mask is a non-destructive layer that gets applied to a subject. Once applied, black areas of the mask will make the subject transparent, whereas white areas of the mask will leave it opaque. Everything in between - or grayscale - will be partially transparent depending on how light or dark the shade is.
You can download a free copy of the avatar design used in this demonstration here: logosbynick.com/12-free-flat-...
If you want to learn more about logo design, be sure to check out my Logo Design Academy - an interactive 18-part video course where you will learn my entire creative process for coming up with logo ideas and implementing them: logosbynick.com/learn/
Need a logo? Check out my portfolio and hire me at: www.logosbynick.com
Intro song: "In Da Mood" by Combustibles, used with written permission

Пікірлер: 209

  • @ClayRavin
    @ClayRavin2 жыл бұрын

    For those of you who, like me, got stuck in Transparency mode with no apparent escape, you need to press the left preview thumbnail in the Transparency window, obscure as that may be.

  • @DetectSouthernOntario2479

    @DetectSouthernOntario2479

    2 жыл бұрын

    THANK YOU!

  • @1908sonofabraham

    @1908sonofabraham

    Жыл бұрын

    Lol 😅I was once roaming all over the stuff to escape from this shit 😂...

  • @AghiKell

    @AghiKell

    Жыл бұрын

    OMG YOU JUST SAVED MY BRAIN. This tutorial missed the most important part. lol Thank you

  • @petertaylor7801

    @petertaylor7801

    Жыл бұрын

    May God bless this capeless hero!

  • @TH509a

    @TH509a

    Жыл бұрын

    you save my life!

  • @kynandesouza
    @kynandesouza3 жыл бұрын

    one of the best videos on YT to explain this!! thank you

  • @ermerk
    @ermerk2 жыл бұрын

    BROOOOOOOOO!!! You have no idea how helpful this tutorial was! I had no Idea you could go into the mask and retrieve the original mask object!

  • @shabobchik
    @shabobchik3 жыл бұрын

    DUDE - this is such an AWESOME technique. THANK YOU.

  • @user-cf2ux8ox8s
    @user-cf2ux8ox8s4 ай бұрын

    Easy and smooth tutorial, rare talented tutor. Thank's a lot

  • @ubergregmoto
    @ubergregmoto2 жыл бұрын

    Short, sweet and effective-cheers mate.

  • @ratheeshthottakath
    @ratheeshthottakath3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the video. Very much helpful!

  • @IvailoYanev
    @IvailoYanev2 жыл бұрын

    This is a great way to create gradients between regular photos and photos with applied effects! Thank you!

  • @davidmoore7115
    @davidmoore711510 ай бұрын

    Really helpful and well explained, thank you, big time!

  • @ellenadam7569
    @ellenadam75692 жыл бұрын

    Just what I needed! Thank you!

  • @thierrylagrin2859
    @thierrylagrin28592 жыл бұрын

    Super video with great explanation!

  • @zoujunjie101
    @zoujunjie101 Жыл бұрын

    thanks for the tutorial. this is the exact video that im looking for!

  • @JoshBraunz
    @JoshBraunz3 ай бұрын

    Excellent this was just what I needed to get the effect I am looking for for my business card, thank you Nick! Your channel is a great resource.

  • @marcelaperez9363
    @marcelaperez93632 жыл бұрын

    Short and clear! Thanks master

  • @WSGarside25
    @WSGarside252 жыл бұрын

    Straight to the point and spot on. Thanks, Nick!

  • @heyo8056
    @heyo8056 Жыл бұрын

    Oh my goodness you're a live saver, finally I'm able to make this thank you

  • @C0llinsW0rth.
    @C0llinsW0rth.15 күн бұрын

    Awesome, I did not know this and it was quick and easy!

  • @scarletpointproduction
    @scarletpointproduction7 ай бұрын

    Excellent thank you, was hard to find a video like yours for this subject ;)

  • @marciosilvadesign
    @marciosilvadesign3 жыл бұрын

    Great tutorial! I would do pretty much the same, but would paste the gradient with CTRL + F to paste in place. No need to center the gradient afterwards, since this paste would place the object in the same coordinates as before (regarding the artboard, so usefull to paste the same object through several artboards in the same place). Cheers!

  • @rachelminneapolis
    @rachelminneapolis Жыл бұрын

    THANK YOU this was the only tutorial that made sense to me

  • @Lamefoureyes
    @Lamefoureyes2 жыл бұрын

    Just what I needed, thank you

  • @KarenAJS
    @KarenAJS3 жыл бұрын

    So great! Thank you for this tutorial!

  • @Coops1985
    @Coops19859 ай бұрын

    thank you that was very helpful, exactly what i needed

  • @IndieKomiksPodcast
    @IndieKomiksPodcastАй бұрын

    Thanks you for the tutorial. This is very useful!

  • @pytray
    @pytray2 жыл бұрын

    Nice and easy, thank you!

  • @Temzy
    @Temzy3 жыл бұрын

    Cheers! This really helped!

  • @jamesdigriz5449
    @jamesdigriz54493 жыл бұрын

    Awesome, thank you so much!

  • @juliahan7982
    @juliahan79822 жыл бұрын

    The gradients are so counterintuitive, I would have thought the black was opaque and white more transparent. Thanks for the tutorial!!

  • @darkphoenix7284

    @darkphoenix7284

    2 жыл бұрын

    I also get confused in that 😄

  • @bradcasper4823

    @bradcasper4823

    4 ай бұрын

    Pretty simple for me. Remember that black people steal pixels and white don't.

  • @Supermed
    @Supermed3 жыл бұрын

    Awesome mate, thanks a ton

  • @amierittler8940
    @amierittler8940 Жыл бұрын

    THANK YOU!!!! This is - BY FAR - the best, easiest Illustrator tutorial I have found and I am sooooo appreciative!

  • @joey-if7zq
    @joey-if7zq2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much for this tutorial. It was exactly what I was looking for.

  • @jorhnmatan8064
    @jorhnmatan8064 Жыл бұрын

    ขอบคุณครับพี่บ่าว ขอให้เจริญๆ นะครับ👍👍👍👍

  • @shakaibart587
    @shakaibart5873 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Man You just save the day !

  • @danielrasheedi
    @danielrasheedi3 жыл бұрын

    thanks man!! really save my day

  • @karimecardenas7388
    @karimecardenas73882 жыл бұрын

    this is what I was looking for!

  • @eddybesselink6256
    @eddybesselink625610 ай бұрын

    Great tutorial mate.

  • @Denise.Conway
    @Denise.Conway3 ай бұрын

    Thanks! Very helpful :)

  • @yoanesse
    @yoanesse Жыл бұрын

    beautifully explained - very great job #thumbsUp

  • @ebtehalessam8986
    @ebtehalessam89862 жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much! very helpful

  • @primeexample
    @primeexample2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you u made it so easy to understand 😁

  • @bernardohenrique7134
    @bernardohenrique71343 жыл бұрын

    Very useful, thank you

  • @carlosmerac
    @carlosmerac3 жыл бұрын

    Simple method. Thanks

  • @hsbrasil8565
    @hsbrasil856511 ай бұрын

    Helped a lot thank you!

  • @ahmadfadzli490
    @ahmadfadzli4903 жыл бұрын

    thank you for the information

  • @jcsanchez
    @jcsanchez3 жыл бұрын

    GREAT TUTORIAL!!!!!!!!!!

  • @TheNashvilleJason
    @TheNashvilleJason2 жыл бұрын

    thanks for this. I've struggled with that until now. Different workflow in Photoshop.

  • @user-hz8of2wy2r
    @user-hz8of2wy2r Жыл бұрын

    this is great tutorial. thanks

  • @asher4898
    @asher48983 жыл бұрын

    Great tutorial

  • @doodlewenzday7834
    @doodlewenzday78342 жыл бұрын

    thank you for this tutorial :)

  • @GeorgiosStefanidis-hz5so
    @GeorgiosStefanidis-hz5so Жыл бұрын

    appreciate it nick!

  • @ajnadeenindustrialforfood5511
    @ajnadeenindustrialforfood55112 жыл бұрын

    Amazing! this is great tool. I tried it in different way, I would recommend to use the same way in creating curve transparent gradient. I needed it to do my pouch design. Thanks for your video.

  • @mariamziad9379
    @mariamziad93793 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this video

  • @michaniewiarowski3921
    @michaniewiarowski39212 жыл бұрын

    Helpful!! Thanks:)

  • @Erica_RW
    @Erica_RW2 жыл бұрын

    Great, thank you!

  • @brigittaanindya2314
    @brigittaanindya23149 ай бұрын

    thankyou! so helpful

  • @malayali_thaaram
    @malayali_thaaram Жыл бұрын

    Thank youuuu. It worked

  • @iraceruk
    @iraceruk3 жыл бұрын

    There's no doubt about it. The best tutorials on KZread. Thanks so much 👍

  • @ellsprinting2179
    @ellsprinting2179 Жыл бұрын

    thanks its work !!

  • @zarishimtiaz399
    @zarishimtiaz3993 жыл бұрын

    Thanks man!

  • @sepehrsepik6259
    @sepehrsepik62593 жыл бұрын

    Thank you soo much🔥❤️

  • @rupe6103
    @rupe61032 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @silvertree2189
    @silvertree21893 ай бұрын

    god-sent!

  • @yommie1806
    @yommie18062 жыл бұрын

    Thank you So much

  • @bethelhemkebere196
    @bethelhemkebere196 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you 🙏

  • @ibtishamarman3427
    @ibtishamarman34273 жыл бұрын

    IT HELPED BROOO!! aaaand if you get stuck on the opacity mask layer on the transparency panel click on the main pic OK thank me later folks!!

  • @stellaprincessedirectioner7268

    @stellaprincessedirectioner7268

    3 жыл бұрын

    THANK YOUUUUUUUU !

  • @ibtishamarman3427

    @ibtishamarman3427

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@stellaprincessedirectioner7268 Pleasure!

  • @Mooncaque

    @Mooncaque

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks mate ❤️

  • @RandyRowseforMayor

    @RandyRowseforMayor

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @artdreem2612

    @artdreem2612

    2 жыл бұрын

    Really thankss❤❤❤❤

  • @vinylkitties7389
    @vinylkitties73892 жыл бұрын

    THANK YOU!!

  • @WendyMarieMedia
    @WendyMarieMedia3 жыл бұрын

    What are the thumbs down all about. Geeze. Nick, I love your inkscape and adobe videos.

  • @thedigitalnoodle4021
    @thedigitalnoodle40213 жыл бұрын

    nice vids. thanks. would be worth referencing the shortcut keys for the functions. like (ctrl x cut) and (ctrl f paste in place) etc. looking forward to more of these tuts.

  • @uimonk
    @uimonk Жыл бұрын

    please make such useful tutorial series!! respect from india

  • @zboy303
    @zboy3033 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this. I find Illustrator so convoluted to use.

  • @shahidulislam9055
    @shahidulislam9055 Жыл бұрын

    thank you so much

  • @islamkhowaja2565
    @islamkhowaja25652 жыл бұрын

    thank you man

  • @talhajunaid5085
    @talhajunaid50852 жыл бұрын

    good awesome technique sir

  • @0xkutwa818
    @0xkutwa818 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @2handhoangson
    @2handhoangson Жыл бұрын

    good, thanks

  • @kyakonyeinnocent955
    @kyakonyeinnocent95510 ай бұрын

    Thanks man🎉😅

  • @sahniyatrahman
    @sahniyatrahman4 ай бұрын

    thanks it helped.

  • @matthiasb4679
    @matthiasb46792 жыл бұрын

    Yes,very helpful straith to the point,thank you! But now i want to place text over the image not affected by the gradient but it doesnt seem to work. I cant seem to add another layer 🤔

  • 3 жыл бұрын

    THANKS!

  • @SaimonKite
    @SaimonKite2 жыл бұрын

    thank you

  • @AhmedSalah-er7wk
    @AhmedSalah-er7wk2 жыл бұрын

    very helpfull

  • @wajahatitstandard5248
    @wajahatitstandard5248 Жыл бұрын

    Very impressive, very valuable, very informative, very useful video.

  • @procuroemea8746
    @procuroemea87463 жыл бұрын

    brilliant

  • @annonimbouz851
    @annonimbouz8513 жыл бұрын

    More affinity an illustrator tuts please

  • @haleyy_pris
    @haleyy_pris Жыл бұрын

    If i want to paint my object with gradients using the paint bucket tool but the color combinations i want to use are horizontal, how can I change it to vertical???

  • @saberdahmen9393
    @saberdahmen93932 жыл бұрын

    thanks bro

  • @Hikashiarts
    @Hikashiarts Жыл бұрын

    thank u

  • @JahurulIslam3
    @JahurulIslam32 жыл бұрын

    Thanks

  • @pakistankungfutoaassociati628
    @pakistankungfutoaassociati6283 жыл бұрын

    Hello Sir, Hope you are fine in good health. I have a question about the Transparent Gradient Mask. How many times apply Transparent Gradient Mask on the same image. Thanks

  • @sharukali2764
    @sharukali27648 ай бұрын

    waooo amazing

  • @vickryfadillah
    @vickryfadillah2 жыл бұрын

    awesome

  • @titanjedi
    @titanjedi3 жыл бұрын

    thanks

  • @yungdash4852
    @yungdash48523 жыл бұрын

    Thanks this gave me exactly the effect I wanted but now it seem I can't make any other edits to my piece. my layers don't show up only the gradient layer.

  • @DesignMadeSimple

    @DesignMadeSimple

    3 жыл бұрын

    It may be that you still have the mask layer selected in the Transparency menu. Make sure to select the original image layer (it's the thumbnail on the left.)

  • @lydoudou

    @lydoudou

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@DesignMadeSimple Thank u so much lol, I was stuck on that for a few hours

  • @yungdash4852

    @yungdash4852

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@DesignMadeSimple Thank you

  • @nainaiqbal
    @nainaiqbal3 жыл бұрын

    The live preview as mentioned in 3:18 doesn't work now :(

  • @ahmedkishwarferdous8602
    @ahmedkishwarferdous86022 жыл бұрын

    can the gradient side be black or any other color except white? please help

  • @KMHasan
    @KMHasan2 жыл бұрын

    I wanna put 2 masks on 2 sides. This means if I wanna put one more Gradient on top of my head, what can I do? Can I add one more Mask tab

  • @ChristianJaya
    @ChristianJaya2 жыл бұрын

    thankssss

  • @Lor912
    @Lor912 Жыл бұрын

    Hi you can do it with a pattern instead of an image?

  • @borisp9163
    @borisp91632 жыл бұрын

    What if I want to do exactly the same thing just I need Black to stay and white became transparent?

  • @Toebiscuit
    @Toebiscuit3 жыл бұрын

    You don't have to cut & paste the gradient. Just select both objects > "Make Mask" in Transparency tab. You're welcome. =]

  • @haloweenparty10000

    @haloweenparty10000

    3 жыл бұрын

    That did not work for me and I really did end up having to paste the gradient in. Creating the gradient within the mask also did not seem to work for me.

  • @fanniedesrochers7882

    @fanniedesrochers7882

    3 жыл бұрын

    thanks! for some reason it wasn't working for me the copy paste and this worked!

  • @cynicalpenguin

    @cynicalpenguin

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@fanniedesrochers7882 Same, when I tried pasting it everything disappeared and my layers panel showed only the opacity mask. This worked. Thanks OtterPops

  • @mmowoa

    @mmowoa

    3 жыл бұрын

    Did the trick! Thanks!

  • @prodj.mixapeofficial6431

    @prodj.mixapeofficial6431

    2 жыл бұрын

    how? didn't work