I'm looking for a solution to a design challenge. I need to use the pen tool to draw a shape with a gradient color applied only to the stroke. This seems straightforward, but I need the ability to adjust the length of the lines within the stroke while maintaining the gradient. Currently, I achieve this by creating the stroke and masking it with a gradient background. However, this method prevents me from making adjustments to the original stroke, requiring me to repeat the process each time I need to make changes. This technique is primarily used to create breakthrough frames, where text or parts of an image break through the stroke.
I’ve added an example of a breakthrough frame. The gaps in the frame I should be able to adjust as easily as using software like Illustrator or InDesign (vector based).
Any ideas?
