Color Harmony Platform
Design precise gradients with instant accessibility checks
Build shareable CSS gradients, preview color harmony, audit contrast ratios, and export developer-ready code in seconds.
No sign-up • Everything stays in your browser
Create Your Gradient
Design beautiful CSS gradients with live preview. Need to extract colors from images? Try ImageColorPro for advanced color extraction.
imageExtractor.label
Upload an image to detect dominant colors and apply them to the gradient. JPG, PNG, or WebP up to 5 MB.
No intermediate color stops added.
Color Stops
How to Use GradientStudio
Get started in seconds with our intuitive gradient creator. Follow these simple steps to create beautiful gradients.
Choose Gradient Type
Select from Linear (straight line), Radial (circular), or Conic (rotating) gradients. Each type creates a different visual effect perfect for various design needs.
Pick Your Colors
Click on any color stop to change its color. Use the color picker or enter a hex code directly. Add more stops with the "Add Stop" button for complex gradients.
Adjust Angle & Position
Use the angle slider to rotate your gradient. Drag position sliders on each color stop to control where colors transition. Fine-tune opacity for subtle transparency effects.
Export Your Creation
Choose your export format: CSS, Tailwind, SCSS, SVG, PNG, or framework-specific code (React, Vue, Svelte). Click "Copy" to instantly use in your project!
Pro Tips for Better Gradients
- Browse the Gradient Library below for 50+ pre-made gradients you can customize
- Use Color Harmony to automatically generate complementary colors based on color theory
- Check Accessibility to ensure your gradient has good contrast for text readability
- Save to History to keep track of your favorite gradients (stored locally in your browser)
- Pair visuals with words: Brainstorm on-brand copy in PromptCraft so your gradient-driven layouts launch with cohesive messaging.
Gradient of the Day
Saturday, December 20, 2025
Lavender Sky
linear • 2 stops • 180°
PastelDaily Inspiration: We feature a different professionally-designed gradient every day. Come back tomorrow for a new gradient to inspire your designs!
Gradient of the Week
Week 51, 2025
Spring Bloom
linear • 3 stops • 90°
SeasonalWeekly Feature: This professionally-designed gradient changes every week. Perfect for maintaining consistency in your projects throughout the week!
Color Harmony
Generate harmonious color combinations based on color theory. Select a base color and apply different harmony rules to your gradient.
Cool gradient with calm, professional tones
Selected: #3498db
Pro Tips:
- Complementary: Best for high contrast and vibrant gradients
- Analogous: Creates smooth, natural-looking transitions
- Triadic: Balanced and vibrant, great for conic gradients
- Monochromatic: Subtle and sophisticated, perfect for backgrounds
Accessibility Checker
Ensure your gradient is WCAG compliant and readable
Contrast Ratios
Text Readability Preview
White Text
Sample Text
Black Text
Sample Text
Recommended
Sample Text
Recommended Text Color
Use #000000 for best contrast on this gradient.
- •Consider using text shadows or a semi-transparent background for better readability
- •Some gradient stops may not provide sufficient contrast with any text color
WCAG Compliance
Minimum 4.5:1 contrast required
Minimum 7:1 contrast required
Colorblind Simulation
See how your gradient appears to users with color vision deficiency
Accessibility Best Practices
- •Always test your gradients with actual users who have color vision deficiencies
- •Consider adding text shadows or outlines for better readability on complex gradients
- •WCAG AA is the minimum standard; aim for AAA when possible
- •Use solid background colors for critical text (buttons, CTAs, body text)
Gradient Mood Analysis
Discover the emotional impact and mood your gradient conveys
Gradient Mood: Professional
Sophisticated and trustworthy with corporate, business-friendly tones.
Performance Analysis
Evaluate your gradient's rendering complexity and performance impact
Performance Score
Optimal performance - renders efficiently on all devices
Gradient History
0 saved gradients
Gradient Comparison
Compare two gradients side-by-side to find the perfect design
Preset Library
Explore over 60 professional gradients and accelerate your design.
Search by name, hex code, or keyword to find similar gradients.
Filter by name, category, id, or tags. Multiple words refine results.
Gradient Use Cases & Examples
See how professional gradients can enhance your designs. From hero sections to buttons, discover creative ways to use gradients.
Hero Section Background
Welcome to Our Platform
Create stunning designs with powerful tools and intuitive workflows
CSS: background: linear-gradient(to right, #3b82f6, #9333ea);
Feature Cards
Fast Performance
Lightning-fast load times and smooth interactions
Secure & Reliable
Enterprise-grade security you can trust
Premium Quality
Exceptional design and attention to detail
CSS: background: linear-gradient(to bottom right, #f472b6, #e11d48);
Gradient Buttons
Pro Tip: Add hover effects like hover:shadow-lg to make gradient buttons pop!
Gradient Text
Amazing Gradient Text
Make your headings stand out with color
CSS:background: linear-gradient(to right, #9333ea, #db2777, #2563eb); background-clip: text; color: transparent;
Gradient Borders
Premium Content
Use gradient borders to highlight important content sections or premium features.
Use Cases: Section dividers, card borders, decorative elements, premium badges
Gradient Design Best Practices
- Keep it subtle: For backgrounds, use low contrast gradients to avoid overwhelming content
- Test contrast: Always check text readability on gradient backgrounds using our Accessibility Checker
- Match your brand: Use your brand colors as starting points for gradient creation
- Be consistent: Use the same gradient style (angle, color harmony) throughout your design
- Limit complexity: Avoid using too many color stops - 2-4 stops usually looks best
Related Color Tools
Discover more professional tools in our color design ecosystem. These complementary tools work perfectly with GradientStudio.
PaletteForge
AI-powered color palette generator with harmony rules. Create perfectly balanced color schemes using complementary, analogous, and triadic harmony principles.
ImageColorPro
Advanced image color extraction tool. Upload any image and extract dominant colors to use in your gradient designs. Perfect for brand-matching gradients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about using GradientStudio and working with CSS gradients
What browsers support CSS gradients?
All modern browsers support linear and radial gradients. Conic gradients need 2020+ engines. Provide a solid color fallback for legacy browsers.
How do I use the gradient code in my website?
Copy the generated CSS and apply it via background or background-image. Exports are available for CSS, Tailwind, SCSS, React, Vue, and more.
Do I need to create an account to use GradientStudio?
No account is required. Everything runs in your browser and gradient history stays in IndexedDB.
Can I share my gradients with others?
Use the Share button to copy a URL that encodes your gradient. You can also export PNG or SVG files for quick handoffs.
What is the accessibility checker for?
It audits WCAG contrast across the gradient so text remains readable. We sample multiple points to highlight risky zones.
How many color stops can I add to a gradient?
Add as many as you like, but gradients with more than 10 stops can impact performance. Check the Performance Score panel for guidance.
Can I use GradientStudio gradients for commercial projects?
Yes. Everything you create is free for personal and commercial work—no attribution required.
What's the difference between linear, radial, and conic gradients?
Linear gradients transition along a line, radial gradients radiate from a center point, and conic gradients rotate colors around a pivot like a color wheel.
Gradient Best Practices
Master the art of creating beautiful, performant, and accessible gradients with these professional tips and techniques
Choosing the Right Colors
- Use color harmony principles: Try our Color Harmony panel to generate complementary, analogous, or triadic color schemes. These scientifically-proven combinations create visually pleasing gradients.
- Stay within similar hues: For subtle backgrounds, choose colors within the same color family (e.g., light blue to dark blue). For bold statements, use contrasting colors (e.g., orange to purple).
- Consider color temperature: Warm colors (reds, oranges, yellows) evoke energy and excitement. Cool colors (blues, greens, purples) suggest calm and professionalism. Check our Mood Analysis feature!
- Match your brand identity: Start with your brand colors as anchor points, then use color harmony to generate complementary shades that stay true to your visual identity.
- Test in context: Colors look different depending on surrounding elements. Always preview your gradient in the actual design context before finalizing.
Preventing Color Banding
- Use our Smoothness Control: Enable gradient smoothing to automatically add intermediate color stops that eliminate visible banding, especially on large screens.
- Add subtle noise texture: Use our Noise/Texture overlay option to add a subtle grain that breaks up banding patterns. This works especially well for dark gradients.
- Avoid extreme color jumps: Large differences in brightness between color stops cause noticeable banding. Keep brightness transitions gradual by adding intermediate stops.
- Watch dark gradients carefully: Banding is most visible in dark blue/purple/black gradients. Test on multiple screens and add extra color stops if needed.
- Export as SVG for print: If your gradient will be printed or used at large sizes, export as SVG instead of PNG to maintain smooth transitions at any resolution.
Performance Optimization
- Check Performance Score: Use our built-in Performance Score analyzer to see your gradient's complexity rating. Aim for scores above 70/100 for best performance.
- Limit color stops: Keep gradients under 10 color stops when possible. Each additional stop increases rendering complexity. Simple 2-4 stop gradients perform best.
- Prefer linear gradients: Linear gradients are fastest to render. Use radial/conic only when the visual effect justifies the slight performance cost.
- Avoid transparent gradients on mobile: Gradients with opacity/transparency can cause performance issues on low-end mobile devices. Use solid colors when possible.
- Use CSS over images: CSS gradients are always more performant than image files. They scale perfectly, load instantly, and use less bandwidth.
- Test on real devices: Performance varies widely across devices. Test your gradients on actual mobile phones and tablets, not just desktop browsers.
Accessibility & Usability
- Always check contrast ratios: Use our Accessibility Checker to ensure text on gradient backgrounds meets WCAG AA standards (4.5:1 for body text, 3:1 for large text).
- Test colorblind accessibility: Enable colorblind simulation modes to see how your gradient appears to users with color vision deficiencies. Avoid red-green combinations.
- Provide fallback colors: Always include a solid background-color before your gradient for browsers that don't support gradients or when CSS fails to load.
- Don't rely on color alone: If gradients convey important information, provide alternative cues (text, icons, patterns) for users who can't perceive color differences.
- Be consistent across your design: Use the same gradient style (angles, color harmonies) throughout your website or app for a cohesive, professional look.
Quick Pro Tips
- 💡Save your best gradients to History for quick reuse across projects
- 💡Use the Share button to create bookmarkable URLs for client approval workflows
- 💡Press Ctrl+Z / Cmd+Z to undo changes - full undo/redo support included!
- 💡Browse our Trending Gradients section to see what's popular and get inspiration
- 💡Extract colors from images using the Image Extractor feature for brand-perfect gradients
Important Information
Browser Compatibility: CSS gradients are widely supported in modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge). For older browsers, consider providing fallback solid colors. Linear and radial gradients have excellent support, while conic gradients require modern browsers (2020+).
Accessibility Notice: While we provide WCAG contrast checking tools, always test your gradients with real users and assistive technologies. Consider using solid colors for critical text to ensure maximum readability.
Performance: Complex gradients with many color stops may impact rendering performance on low-end devices. For better performance, minimize the number of color stops when possible.
License & Usage: All gradients created with GradientStudio are yours to use freely in personal and commercial projects. No attribution required. We store gradients locally in your browser for your convenience.