Gradients can make or break a design. Use them well and your work looks modern and polished. Use them poorly and everything looks dated. Here are five tips to get them right.
Keep It Subtle
Subtle gradients work better than loud ones. Use gentle transitions between similar colors for backgrounds. Save bold gradients for buttons or small UI elements where they won't overwhelm.
Tip: Start with two shades of the same color. One lighter, one darker. Adjust opacity until it feels right.
Pick Colors That Work Together
Bad color combinations ruin gradients. Use a color wheel. Analogous colors (next to each other) create smooth gradients. Complementary colors (opposite) create bold ones.
Tip: If your gradient looks muddy or brown in the middle, your colors are too far apart. Pick closer colors.
Check Contrast
Text over gradients needs good contrast. Test with both light and dark text. Use contrast checkers to verify readability.
Tip: Aim for WCAG AA compliance (4.5:1 contrast ratio minimum). Use tools like WebAIM's contrast checker.
Stay Consistent
Use the same gradient style across your project. Define your gradients once, reuse them. Document the angles and colors in your style guide.
Tip: Create CSS variables for your gradients. Makes updates easier.
Choose the Right Format
Format matters. CSS for web. PNG for print or design software. SVG for scalable graphics.
CSS
Websites, lightweight, scalable
PNG/JPG
Print, design apps, social media
SVG
Icons, logos, vectors
Tip: Read our guide on choosing between PNG and CSS for more details.
Summary
Good gradients are subtle, use compatible colors, maintain contrast, stay consistent, and use the right format. Follow these rules and your gradients will work.
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