shape layers gradient fill – “handles”- quick key to see them?

[Walter Soyka]

You must have layer controls visible (Ctrl+Shift+H on a PC, Cmd+Shift+H on a Mac) and you must have the gradient ramp effect selected in the Effect Control panel to get the on-screen controls.

Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive   |   RenderBreak [blog]   |   Profile [LinkedIn]

[Bart Stevens]

Thanks for the feedback Walter..
I do have layer controls visible (I can see the blue paths in my comp window)
I select the “Gradient Fill” effect as a part of the shape layer in the composition window.
I don’t see my visible handles ( but can control with sliders)
I’m just frustrated because sometimes I can see the handles and sometimes not, just want to figure out why its not consistent.

Thanks
-Bart

[Brian Charles]

I agree, this has always been a mystery to me. The controls don’t behave consistently, I’m not sure what makes them appear or disappear.

@ Walter: Bart is referring to Shape Layers gradients, not the Ramp effect.

EDIT: I just experimented with parametric shapes vs bezier shapes, its the parametric ones that don’t show the gradient controls, the bezier ones do.

[Bart Stevens]

Thanks Brian,
I was unaware of the difference between parametric and bezier curves, very useful!

[Philippe Phicata]

Create an empty group, drop into the group, shape and its gradient.
Now, if the selection tool and the gradient are selected, you can see and use the manipulators (“handles”)

[Dayn Wilberding]

Did you ever find the solution to this? It’s killing me not being able to see the start/end/stops on the comp canvas. Thanks!

[Bart Stevens]

Nothing really consistent…
I usually move the gradient element up and down the hierarchy and that seems to do it, (sometimes!)

[Phillip Seitz]

I’ve always had luck with making sure the layer is selected or at least, the gradient fill under the contents is selected, and then making sure I have my selecting tool selected (the arrow, or shortcut “V”). That always brings up my gradient handles.

[Erik Waluska]

The group thing that Philippe suggested does work, but it’s definitely more of a workaround since the handles should show up consistently when you select the gradient fill – group or not. I’m still on CS6 so maybe this is fixed in the newer versions?

Erik Waluska
EAWmedia

[Jud Barnes]

Is it as simple as clicking on the selection tool?