Gradient Generator Tool

Color gradients can lift a page without adding weight or complex assets. A clean gradient paints an area with two or more colors that blend smoothly. The control here keeps the workflow short - choose linear or radial, set an angle or shape, add stops with hex inputs and positions, and copy the CSS. The preview updates on every change so you can dial in a result that fits your component rather than guess.

Quick start - pick stops and set an angle

Add at least two color stops. Each stop has a color and a position like 0 percent or 70 percent. For linear gradients, the angle defines the direction of the blend - 90deg flows left to right, 180deg flows top to bottom. For radial gradients, the shape label accepts circle or ellipse and optional size keywords if you need more control. When your stops and angle feel right, copy the single CSS line into your stylesheet or inline style.

CSS gradient syntax - linear and radial basics

Linear gradients follow a simple pattern: linear-gradient(angle, color stop, color stop). Radial gradients start from a center and move outward: radial-gradient(shape, color stop, color stop). You can also use directional keywords like to right or to bottom right in place of angles. The full set of options is well documented in the browser platform - see the MDN linear-gradient guide for exact forms and fallback ideas. Once you are comfortable with the basics, you can layer multiple gradients in the same background to create depth without images.

Accessibility - contrast, overlays, and readability

Gradients introduce variation, which can affect text contrast. If you need to place text over a gradient, test foreground and background combinations in several spots on the gradient, not just the ends. A thin overlay - a subtle transparent black or white on top of the gradient - often stabilizes contrast without changing your palette. The WCAG contrast guidance is a solid reference for minimum ratios. For buttons, prefer solid fills or clear contrast checks because gradients on small controls can produce inconsistent readability across devices.

Performance and file size - gradients are cheap

CSS gradients render quickly and add no network hops. Compared to image backgrounds, they save bytes and remove asset management from your build. If you occasionally need an export for design tools, most editors can paste the CSS and produce a raster preview. For production, keep the CSS - it scales sharply at any resolution and adapts to layout changes without art direction overhead.

Comparison - flat color vs gradient backgrounds

Bullet notes - gradients that age well

• Use three or fewer stops for most UI surfaces - fewer stops are easier to reuse and adjust.
• Keep angular changes subtle for large sections - sharp angles can fight layout flow.
• Test the gradient on both light and dark mode if your design supports theme switching.
• Prefer hex or HSL values you can name in tokens so the palette remains consistent across components.

Real example - steady header that avoids banding

A marketing site needed a top banner that felt lively without hurting readability. We used a linear gradient with two stops at 0 percent and 100 percent, then added a semi-transparent overlay on top. The overlay muted any banding on older displays and made white text pass contrast checks across the full width. The CSS shipped as a single background line and a second background layer in the same declaration, which kept the markup clean and the CSS legible.

Two questions before you ship

• Does the gradient support the content or steal attention from it - and would a softer angle or fewer stops help?
• Does text on top pass contrast checks in several spots along the gradient, not just at one end?

Gradients are one of those CSS tools that reward small adjustments. If you keep stops simple, verify contrast, and write the CSS in a clear single line, you will get a look that feels custom without the maintenance cost of images. The platform support is mature and fast, so you can lean on it anywhere you might otherwise reach for a background asset.