Gradient
Gradation
An effect where colors change gradually and blend naturally into one another.
In Simple Terms
A gradient is an effect where colors or brightness shift little by little, blending smoothly into one another. It's widely used in website backgrounds, app icons, and button designs. By combining two or more colors or varying brightness, it can also be used to give a screen a sense of depth and dimension.
Behind the Name
The word traces back to "Gradation," meaning "a gradual change." In design and imaging, the term itself hints at this technique of shifting from one color to another little by little.
Take a Closer Look!
A gradient is a technique where multiple colors or brightness levels change gradually, without forming a hard edge between them.
Unlike a flat, single-color fill, this gradual shift can add depth and a richer look to flat illustrations and web screens.
Broadly speaking, there are several types depending on the direction or shape the color change follows.
Common examples include the radial gradient, where color spreads outward in a circle from a center point, and the linear gradient, where color shifts along a straight line.
Behind the scenes, digital tools calculate the in-between colors mathematically to create a smooth transition between the specified colors.
A helpful way to picture it: think of a sunset sky shifting naturally from red to purple to deep blue.
Gradients are widely used in website backgrounds, buttons, and logos to guide the eye or emphasize specific elements.
By adjusting the combination of colors and the intensity of the change, you can give an entire screen a wide range of moods and atmospheres.