In Illustrator CC 2018, I can't find a way to apply a gradient to individual letters of a text. I know that I can apply the gradient to the whole text by adding a new fill to the text object. But selecting individual letters with the text tool and selecting the gradient swatch for the fill, or using the gradient panel, doesn't change anything.
In fact, when removing the fill of the text object beforehand, and then selecting a gradient swatch for an individual letter, that letter gets colored in black again, regardless of the gradient swatch used. Why is that?
It must be possible to add a gradient fill to individual letters without converting the text to shapes. Other sources mention to apply Effect>Path>Outline Object to the text object, and then selecting individual letters for the gradient, this doesn't work for me either. Any ideas?