Transparency in the gradient

Let s go back to the Orbit Trap coloring on the top (Web) layer and change some settings.

G     

Enter 5 in the Color Density setting, and select rectangle as the Trap Shape parameter.

We need to work with the gradient for this layer to better see the trap shapes, so open the gradient 

editor by selecting Gradient from the Fractal menu.

G     

Click and drag the set of white control points to the left to position 85. Click and drag the 

set of black control points to position 86.

This creates a sharp line between the white and black areas of your fractal. 

G     

Now let s open up a new part of the gradient editor   the Opacity bar   by clicking on the 

little down arrow next to the word Opacity, just above the rotation slider. This opens a 

fourth horizontal band of color that looks right now very much like the other three.

Just as the opacity setting on the Layers tab controls 

the transparency of the entire layer, the opacity bar in 

the gradient editor allows us to assign different 

transparencies to the individual colors in our gradient.

Transparent gradients

By default, the opacity bar is empty. Let s link it to the color bars so they both contain the same 

control points.

Click Link Color and Opacity on the Gradient menu.

G     

Click on the set of white control points   they are the ones at the tops of their respective 

color bands. 

G     

Click and hold that same highlighted control point in the Opacity channel and drag it all the 

way to the bottom, keeping its position at 85.

Note: This can be a tricky maneuver with all the control points so close together. You can also enter 

the new opacity value (0) manually. Remember you can always Undo an unwanted change.

Your fractal and gradient should now look like this:

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