scrap pad

custom gradient fills in ArcMac 9.2

so you can fill shapes with any color gradient you want.

1. open the "style manager" from tools -> styles -> style manager...
2. in the left pane, expand a folder (probably want to choose the c:\documents and settings\username\... one)
3. create a "color ramp"
   1. click on the "Color Ramps" folder in the left pane
   2. right click in the right pane, choose new -> algorithmic color ramp...
   3. fiddle to create a gradient, hit ok
   4. name the gradient.
4. click on "fill symbols" in the right pane.
5. right click in the left pane, choose new -> fill symbol...
6. from the "type" dropdown in the top center of the window, choose "gradient fill symbol"
7. dig around in the "color ramp" dropdown to find your gradient. they're not labeled, or ordered (apparently).
8. bring the "intervals" number up a bit: more "intervals" = smoother gradient. I do 25.
9. fiddle. edit the outline color if you want. hit ok.
10. name the "fill symbol". close the style manager.
11. to use the new gradient fill symbol, double click on a rectangular color swatch in the "layers" pane. choose the thing you named. it will be in any pane where you select "fill symbols" like that.

ESRI's help article on Creating fill symbols in ArcMap 9.2.