gradient paths in Illustrator

[nicrose]

I'm learning how to make gradient paths in illustrator and I'm trying to get the path to go from a lighter blue to more transparent so that the background shows through. I created a path, made a blue to black gradient, then put the gradient in screen mode so the background shows thru. The problem is, the gradient stops at a hard edge lined up right where the edges of the path are. But in the tutorial i'm using, the gradient ends gradually, with no hard edge. Is there something I'm doing wrong? The tutorial I'm using doesn't seem to explain that part. bad.jpg shows the gradient path with the icky hard edge, and good.jpg shows the gradient path with the nice gradual edge.
Thanks for your help.
Nicrose
Mac User (Mac 10.4, Illustrator CS)

 

[iMeowbot]

Unless I'm misunderstanding what you want to do, I think that the missing ingredient in your recipe is an opacity mask. This little forum post has a quick explanation of how to make them, and as noted there the feature can be a little finicky. Just try out different gradients in the top layer, apply, play with the opacity and checkboxes to see what they do, undo undo undo, try again with an altered gradient, 'til you get the hang of it.

 

[nicrose]

Figured it out

The reason the paths had that ugly edge is because they were not closed paths. The only way to create that look is with a closed path—a polygon, basically. I figured it out by looking at the paths used in the original tutorial file. It was a stuffed Illustrator file, so it had the polygon shape in there. Well, thanks to the person who gave me that other suggestion. I appreciate it.
Nicrose