: Why doesn't the gradient tool appear over the object I've applied it to in Illustrator CS6? Why doesn't the gradient tool appear over the object I've applied it to in Illustrator CS6? I have

@Tiffany317

I didn't see a response for the Windows version, but there it is Ctrl+Alt+G to turn it back on.

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@Bryan765

I've run into this bug for years. It's most definitely not cause by groupings or compound paths, as I've used the gradient tool within them plenty of times. Sometimes simply restarting illustrator will bring the tool back, but not always. I've never found a consistent method for fixing this outside of just remaking the object and re-applying the gradient.

It seems to happen most often when I'm running low on memory.

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@Smith574

All good answers (I'm working in CS 5.5) I've had this problem and also noticed that even though groups and compound paths may cause issues with gradients, they do not make gradients impossible. Sometimes you have to Ungroup, Release Compound Path (Object/Compound Path/...), then re-make the compound path (if there was one to begin with) and re-Group. Usually this will fix the problem for me.

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@Reiling762

Is my software bugged or is this simply a disappointing new feature in CS6?


This is not a bug. Check that your shape isn't a Compound path or grouped.

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@Shelley591

Kind of late but hope my answer can be of help.

So the control that you are looking for is called the "Gradient annotator" can might be switched off accidentally by pressing the shortcut "cmd + opt + G" for mac. Not so sure about Windows.

To reactivate it simply press the shortcut again or go to View > Show Gradient Annotator and you should have the gradient controls back on.

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@Angela777

They haven't removed this feature. Make sure that you have the object selected, a radial gradient has already been applied, and you have the gradient tool currently being used.

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