Gradient

Scope

• Book Page content object > Multiple Choice object > Design Controls > Gradient property
• Book Page content object > Shape object > Effect > Gradient property
• Simulation content object > Shape macro > Effect > Gradient property

Purpose

This property is used to select the type of gradient that should be applied to the parent shape. The property provides a drop-down list from which one of the following options can be selected:

• no Gradient (default)
• Left to Right
• Diagonal Down Right
• Top Down
• Diagonal Down Left
• Right to Left
• Diagonal Up Left
• Bottom Up
• Diagonal Up Right
• 10 Degrees Down Right

The parent Shape's Shape Color (or Border Color) appears at the first position in the Gradient value, transitioning into the Shape Color (Gradient) (or Border Color (Gradient)) at the second position in the Gradient value. So, for example, if the Shape Color is blue, the Shape Color (Gradient) is red, and the gradient is set to Top Down, the shape will be filled with solid red at the very top and solid blue at the very bottom, fading from blue to red on the way down.

The 10 Degrees Down Right option is unique in that the gradient appears at an angle of 10° from the horizontal (with the rightmost side being higher). Note that in this case the gradient does not extend from the top to the bottom of the shape, and the 'mid-point' of the gradient does not appear in the middle of the shape - instead, somewhat strangely, its position varies depending upon the ratio (height vs. width) of the parent shape.

Note that the Shape Color (Gradient) and Border Color (Gradient) are specified separately, but there is a single Gradient property, so even though the shape fill and border can be different colors, they will always fade in the same direction.

For Multiple Choice questions within a Book Page, the gradient is applied to the selection controls (the square or circle the user clicks on to select an Answer).