How to Gradient Fill Text in Adobe Illustrator

In this tutorial, you will learn how to fill text with a gradient in Adobe Illustrator. This can be a really effective way to lift your designs and give them a new dimension!

Step 1 - Create Your Text

Start by selecting the Type tool (T). Click anywhere on your artboard and type your text. Double-click your text to highlight it, and select your font from the dropdown menu in the Character panelor the top toolbar. I am using a vintage serif typeface called Nighty.

Note: if you don’t see the Character panel, go to Window > Type > Character.

Now, reposition and resize your text on your artboard by selecting the Selection tool (V), then clicking and dragging from the corner nodes.

Note: hold down Shift to keep the text in proportion while you resize.

Step 2 - Add a New Fill to the Text in the Appearance Panel

Open the Appearance panel by selecting Window > Appearance.

With the text selected, click the burger menu icon from the top right of the Appearance panel, then choose Add New Fill or click the Add New Fill button at the bottom of the Appearance panel instead.

Step 3 - Apply Your Gradient

Click the Fill dropdown menu. Here you will be presented with a panel consisting of all your swatches. You can create your own gradients, add them to the swatches panel, and then apply them to your text.

In the bottom left corner of the swatches panel, click Swatch Libraries menu > Gradients to locate pre-loaded gradient swatches.

Here you have lots of different categories to choose from.

After selecting a category and locating a gradient you’d like to use, ensure your text is selected and click on your favorite gradient. The gradient will be applied straight to your text. I am using a gradient from the Pastels category.

Step 4 - Edit Your Gradient

With the text still selected, click the Gradient tool (G) in the left toolbar.

A white bar with color nodes will appear. You can drag the nodes and the white diamonds along the bar to change the amount of color shown. To change the color, simply click the corresponding color node and choose a different color.

You can find beautiful pastel color palettes on Design Bundles to pick colors from if needed.

To add more nodes for more colors, hover just below the bar until you see the plus symbol (+) next to your cursor and click. Drag the color nodes off the bar to remove that particular color. See how we’ve removed the light blue node in the following image.

You can change the bar length by clicking and dragging the black square on the end. Move the whole gradient if needed by clicking anywhere on the bar and dragging it.

Rotate the gradient by hovering slightly outside the bar next to the black square node until you see the rotate cursor symbol. Then click and drag to change the angle. The gradient/bar will rotate about the black circle on the other end.

For even more gradient settings, you can use the Gradient panel, which you can open by going to Window > Gradient.

Step 5 - Add a Stroke to Your Gradient Filled Text

Open the Appearance panel again, and click on the Stroke dropdown menu to see the color swatches available. You can also change the stroke weight of the line to the right.

You can now successfully make gradient fill text. Now that you are familiar with the steps, you can try so many different settings and gradients to achieve different looks.

If you’re interested, we have more gradient-related tutorials, such as creating a transparent gradient and making a wavy ribbon gradient in Illustrator.