I've been following this thread to see if anyone could offer a solution to
the gradient problem and I'm amazed that I've seen every answer, but the one
that works.  Making the gradient fill an object, and contour to that object,
is actually much simpler than it appears.

Reference http://www.wcnet.net/shay/pics/vase.jpg and
http://www.wcnet.net/shay/pics/vase2.jpg

Both were made with PhotoShop, utilizing two different filters.

In vase.jpg, I created a layer containing the outline for the vase.  I used
the magic wand to select the area inside the vase, then in layers 2 and 3 I
made a gradient pattern.  Layer  2 is used as a background filler - most of
it gets dissolved, but it allows you to fill areas that are taken away in
layer 3.  In layer three, I used a rubber filter from the Picture Man filter
set.  The lines are "grabbed" by the mouse and dragged to new distorted
positions within the vase outline.  When I was done, I turn on all layers
and saved a copy as a jpg.  The result is a vase with distorted gradient,
yet having a gradient over the entire image.

In vase2.jpg, I figured that most people might not have the Picture Man
filter set, so I made this image using the filters available with PhotoShop.
I used the filter Distort/Pinch, then applied the pinch in the area around
the neck of the vase.  Again, I used a second layer to provide a complete
gradient background because layer 3 removes a portion of the gradient from
the selection during the distortion.  The result here is that the vase has a
natural gradient pattern around the neck, stem and body.

Hope this helps out - Now back to studying for my finals :-))

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=====================================
Bare Tranquility Web Design
http://www.wcnet.net/shay/index.html
shay(at)wcnet.net  /  shay(at)Bayou.uh.edu
Member of the HTML Writer's Guild
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-hwg-graphics(at)hwg.org [mailto:owner-hwg-graphics(at)hwg.org]On
> Behalf Of Chris Messina
> Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 1998 7:07 PM
> To: hwg-graphics(at)hwg.org
> Subject: Re: Need help with a gradient.
>
>
> At 03:55 PM 5/5/98 -0500, Bob Barker wrote:
> >I am looking for a relatively easy way to apply a gradient
> to an irregular
> >shape and have the gradient distributed evenly  on the whole
> shape.  I can
> >do squares, rectangles and circles all day but when I try to
> apply one to a
> >shape with a profile like a flower vase, some parts are fine
> but others are
> >not - either too light or dark depending on where I stop the
> gradient.
> >Thanks in advance.
>
>
> Best thing I would suggest (as in PhotoShop) would be to create a path
> along the shape and then perhaps stroke it... Cut out
> everything outside
> the shape and depending on how "soft" you stroked it (as bad as that
> sounds), you may wish to apply a gaussian blur towards the
> center... HTH!
>
>
> Chris Messina
> Webmaster -|- Sandstorm Publishing
> http://www.sandstormpublishing.com
> http://www.sandstormpublishing.com/thecloset
>

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