Fading line with same color at both the ends

Question

I wanted a fading line with the same color at both the ends and a second color in the middle. Here is the crude MWE I came up with:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}                                                                       
\begin{document}
  \begin{tikzpicture}[baseline]
    \path[left color=white,right color=black]
    (0,0) rectangle (.5\textwidth,.5pt);%
    \path[left color=black,right color=white]
    (.5\textwidth,0) rectangle (\textwidth,.5pt); 
  \end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

This leaves a tiny tiny gap in the center. (Or is it just an optical illusion I get because I know I have used two path commands?)

Is there a better way of doing it? May be, with only one path/ fill/ rectangle command?

Did you try to fade your line using a single rectangle with a middle color key? — Paul Gaborit, Mar 20 '15 at 06:16
@PaulGaborit I had seen that conversation earlier. Too complex for a newbie like me :) — deshmukh, Mar 20 '15 at 07:13
@PaulGaborit middle color was excellent. Looked up the exact syntax in texdoc tikz and done. Will you please give that comment as an answer? I will then accept it. — deshmukh, Mar 20 '15 at 07:14

Paul Gaborit · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-20T12:04:06.087

5

You may use the middle color key (after right color and left color keys):

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}                                                                       
\begin{document}
\noindent\begin{tikzpicture}[baseline]
    \path[left color=white,right color=white,middle color=black]
    (0,0) rectangle (\textwidth,.5pt);%
  \end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

edited Mar 20 '15 at 12:04

answered Mar 20 '15 at 07:24

Paul Gaborit

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Fading line with same color at both the ends

1 Answers1