Apply a linear gradient to the highlight

1. Click the red X icon in the layer named Highlight to reveal the shape in that layer. The shape appears at the top of the eight ball.
   
   
2. With the Selection tool, double-click the highlight shape to edit its group.
   
   
3. Select the highlight shape.
   
   
4. In the Color Mixer, select Linear from the Type menu.
   
   
5. Select Non-repeating from the Overflow menu.
   
   
6. Drag the left gradient color swatch all the way to the left and double-click it.
   
   
7. Select the color white (#FFFFFF) from the Color Picker.
   
   
8. Set the Alpha value for the left swatch to 0%.
   
   
9. Drag the right gradient color swatch all the way to the right and double-click it.
   
   
10. Select the color white from the Color Picker.
    
    
11. Set the Alpha value for the right swatch to 75%.
    
    Your gradient settings should match those in the following illustration:
    
    

    The Color Mixer with the correct settings for the gradient on the highlight shape

    

12. With the highlight shape still selected, select the Gradient Transform tool from the Tools panel.
    
    
13. Drag the Gradient Rotate control 90° counterclockwise.
    
    
14. Drag the Gradient Scale control downward until it touches the top of the highlight shape.
    
    

    The Gradient Scale control

    

    Dragging the Gradient Scale control downward to touch the highlight shape

    

15. Select the Selection tool from the Tools panel.
    
    
16. Double-click outside the Stage twice to deselect the highlight group.
    
    The finished Flash illustration looks like this:
    
    

    

17. Select File > Save to save your FLA file.
    
    

Test the application

At any point during authoring, you can test how your application plays as a SWF file. Because this tutorial contains no animation or interactivity, the file will look the same in test mode as it does in authoring mode.

1. Select File > Save to save your FLA file.
   
   
2. Select Control > Test Movie.
   
   
3. When you finish viewing the application, close the SWF file by clicking the close box in the test window.
   
   

You have now successfully applied a variety of gradients in Flash and created an attractive and realistic-looking illustration. By using the gradient tools in Flash, you can create an infinite range of visually interesting graphics and effects.