How to create a blend or gradient that doesn't reach the edge of the shape

Question

I am creating a shape that looks like a pill... a rectangle with two circles on the ends, if you will. But it's all one shape. I want a gradient or blend (what exactly is the differnce?) that has a white middle and dark gray edges. The white goes along the pill horizontally... but the dark gray is above and below this white "line" but the rounded edges of the pill shape are the dark gray. This seems like it would be easy, but I can't figure out how to do it. I'm using CS6.

Answer 1

Julie,
To get something that resembles a straight pill (or a capsule) as the one you describe, you may:
1) Create the outer rounded shape and split it into two: one on top with the stroke, one below with the solid fill corresponding to the colour adjacent to the stroke;
2) Select the filled path and Object>Path>Offset Path, using a negative value that is half the width less a suitable small amount (1pt or something);
3) Change the fill of the small inner path to a paler grey or white;
4) Select both the filled paths and Object>Blend>Make (with Smooth or a suitable number of steps in the Object>Blend Options).
To easily get something that is more like a round pill, you may apply horizontal gradients to the paths in the blend, along with a suitable number of steps.
With a new version, you may also use the new 3D features.