Affinity basics: shape faded based on a gradient

[josh]

To dig in, I started with the examples (respect for including the originals!).

 

One thing that stuck out immediately was that I could not control the style of an object, which meant that I couldn't understand how it was made.

 

 

Here's the object:

 

 

 

It's been separated from Concerto by Ignacio Valicenti. Here's the section in context:

 

 

 

In order to get to where I'm having difficulty, go to the layers panel and hide or delete everything except for:

• body > violin > 05 > (Curve) (the 5th one) and
• bg > bg > base.

 

 

Now, we can clearly see that the shape is affected by a gradient, but everything on the front panel reports that the shape is filled with a single colour:

 

 

The gradient stands out even more when we change the shape a little:

 

 

The obvious choice, would be to go in to the shape's colour settings and change the gradient but that only changes the colour of the shape, and does not affect the fade:

 

 

 

 

 

After looking through what seems like everything, I can't find any button or setting that will change that gradient even though the function is available to turn it in to a layer style and apply the same effect on other shapes.

 

 

What will allow us to do this?

 

 

[Ben]

It's probably using gradient transparency. Try using the Transparency tool in Vector persona. The solid color will be combined with transparency provided by a gradient.

[josh]

Excellent, that was it.

 

Thanks!