71 Gradient Resources for Web Design
Published in ToolsIf you’re looking to learn more about design websites, please see our post Learn Web Design for plenty of resources to help your educational pursuit.
For web designers and graphic designers, gradients provide almost unlimited options for creating the perfect look. This list is a collection of excellent tutorials and resources for effectively using gradients. Some of the tutorials and resources are specific to Photoshop and Illustrator, and others are general. Regardless of whether you use gradients every day or if you’ve never used a gradient, there should be something here for you.
Photoshop Tutorials:
Using Photoshop Gradient Tool from FreeTimeFoto.
Photoshop 101 – The Gradient Tool from Shape Shed.
A Gradient Tutorial from 9rules.
Creating Web 2.0 Effects with Photoshop – Part 1 from SitePoint.
Smooth Gradient Header Photoshop Tutorial from Tutorial Blog.
How to Create a Transparent Gradient in Photoshop from MediaCollege.com.
Creating Stylish Gradient Buttons from Wipeout44.
Jazzed Up Text With Gradient Effects from Wipeout44.
Become a Gradient Junkie from Wipeout44.
Gradient Mapping Effect in Photoshop from Wipeout44.
Web 2.0 Badge Photoshop Tutorial from Ajax Lessons.
Create a Shiny Badge Photoshop Tutorial from Tutorial Blog.
Tutorial: Rays of Light from Bartelme Design.
Sleek and Spicy Website Header Tutorial “Web 2.0 Style” from Photoshopit.
Gradient Text with Photoshop from Depiction.net.
Underwater Scene with Gradients from Heathrowe.com.
Warm Gradient Sunsets with Gradient Maps from Photoshop Essentials.
Using Gradients to Make Light and Shadow – and a Coffee Cup! from PSDTUTS.
Illustrator Tutorials:
Create Realistic Illustrations Using Illustrator’s Gradient Mesh from Veerle’s Blog.
Colorful Gradient Effects in Illustrator from Veerle’s Blog.
Transparent Gradients in Illustrator from CreativeTechs.
Adobe Illustrator – Gradient Mesh Tool, Gradients and Blends from Kevin Hulsey.
Transparent Gradient in Illustrator from Creative Bits.
Create Abstract Backgorunds in Illustrator from Vectips.
Illustrator 101: One Gradient Across Multiple Paths from BittBox.
Gradient Mesh – The Adobe Illustrator Video Podcast.
Gradient Meshes Introduction from Biorust.
How to Create Gradient Text in Illustrator from Wow Web Design.
GIMP Tutorials:
GIMP Gradient Tutorial from TankedUp Imaging.
GIMP Gradient Tutorial at YouTube.
General Tutorials:
Gradient Text Effect from Web Designer Wall.
Super-Easy Blendy Backgrounds from A List Apart.
Pure CSS Text Gradients from CSS Tricks.
Span-Free Gradient Text Effect from Sam Rayner.
Cross-Browser Gradient Backgrounds Without Images from Slayer Office.
Web 2.0 Design Kit from Photoshop Lab.
Gradients – The Web 2.0 How-to Design Guide from Web Design from Scratch.
Gradient Tiles with Shadow from Projectseven.
CSS Gradient Background from DMXzone.
Background Gradients and CSS from TankedUp Imaging.
CSS Web 2.0 Glossy Text from Just Talk About Web.
Creating Gradient Fills with ActionScript from Lukamaras.com.
The Push vs. Pull Gradient from Blogoscoped.
Gradient Generators:
Gradient Image Maker from Dynamic Drive.
The Amazing Gradient Generator.
RoundedCornr – Create a rounded corner with a gradient.
Form Style Generator – Includes a gradient generator.
Gradient Resources:
CSS Text Gradient from CSS Globe.
CSS Gradient Shadow from Dynamic Drive.
Tabs Generator – Create Gradient Tabs.
Ultimate Web 2.0 Gradients – Free Downloads from Deziner Folio.
Ultimate Web 2.0 Gradients – Volume 2 from Deziner Folio.
Ultimate Web 2.0 Gradients – Volume 3 from Deziner Folio.
130 Web 2.0 Gradient Swatches for Illustrator from Deziner Folio.
Ultimate Web 2.0 Layer Styles – Free Download from Deziner Folio.
Some Gradients to Save Some Time from GoSquared.
Free Photoshop Gradients Download from Euphorish.
Gradient Progress Bar from Slayer Office.
Lose the Images: How to Get Rounded Corners, Gradients, Drop Shadows and More Using CSS from DesignVitality.
The Gradient Green Navigation Bar from Listamatic.
130 Ultimate Web 2.0 Gradients for Gimp from Gimp-Tutorials.net.
GIMP Gradients from Gimp.org.
Inspiration:
Yukio Miyamoto – Master of Adobe Illustrator Gradient Mesh Tool.
Color Inspiration: Blends, Gradients, Steps, Oh My! from COLOURlovers.
For more resources please see:
57 Responses
I’d totally bookmark this list if it had 72 resources.
Lamer,
I can find one more if it makes that much of a difference.
Very nice post, Thanks for the amazing resources.
Thanks Tyler. I appreciate the Stumble too.
Thanks for doing all the hard work for us.
I was playing around with gradients yesterday and this will help the learning curve. Appreciated.
Mothership,
I’m glad it can help.
Definitely. At the stage I’m at, any help is appreciated. Our designers are helpful, but once they’ve finished chuckling at my efforts
Karl
Great article. Thank you for sharing
Can I ad something else, this sites html is rendered in flash in realtime and the gradients are defined in CSS.
http://motionandcolor.com/wrapper
Thanks for including our GIMP tutorial. Having been a fan of your site for a while now, it’s gratifying to see you feel it’s worth including on the list.
I wish this list had been around when I first started messing about with gradients
Gradient resources for every web designer
Martin,
You’re welcome. Thanks for reading!
muchas gracias!
A great list, glad that the GIMP wasn’t left out. I expect this will be updated with more information over time?
Guy,
The post may or may not be updated. It depends on the amount of available time. If you have any suggestions feel free to leave another comment with a link.
Thanks for the great list!
Thanks for the resources!
if there’s one thing that is taboo in a lot of design studios, it’s gradients.
Great list, Steven. I had no idea there were so many resources for gradients. Sir jorge, I imagine there are some other “taboos” that deserve more of your attention elsewhere.
This is an awesome list. But I’ve one suggestion. I think it would have been much better if you’ve put how it looked, some sort of a screen shot. Just a suggestion though.
Cheers.
Ton of thanks to Vandelay for this great list! Keep it up.
Sir jorge,
Gradients can look pretty amateur if their not done well. There are some outstanding designers that do amazing things with gradients though. Check the tutorials at PSDTUTS for example.
Matt,
Thanks. I’m glad you liked the list.
Paradise,
Thanks for the suggestion. In the case of this post some of the resources didn’t lend themselves very well to images, but I think you’re right – it could have been improved with some well-chosen images. I’ll keep that in mind for the future.
This list is OK, but would it have killed you to add 72 resources? 71 is a bit thin.
Wow that’s an extensive list. Will be useful for all sorts of graphic design. Gradients work very well as eye candy!
Very useful! thank you.
I got a real kick out of this. I generally find myself using the linear gradient fade the most and not the other options. The circular gradient could come in handy too. I like outer glow to create feathered fades. Feathering is fun too.
Wow that is an impressive list of tutorials. I can’t wait to go through them all its going to take some time so I have booked marked this page so that in my spare time I can have a look at them thanks fr sharing all that with us.
One quick question.
I am looking for a linear sampler tool. Basically, you take an image, draw a single line on it, and it pulls out the colors in that line. Where can I find a tool like that for Photoshop, it would be invaluable to me.
Thanks if anyone knows,
f0ru0l0rd
Great resources – bookmarked
I don’t think I can resist bookmarking this page.thnx a lot
I had no idea there were so many resources for gradients. Sir jorge, I imagine there are some other “taboos” that deserve more of your attention elsewhere.
This is an awesome list. But I’ve one suggestion. I think it would have been much better if you’ve put how it looked, some sort of a screen shot. Just a suggestion though.
Cheers.
I got a real kick out of this. I generally find myself using the linear gradient fade the most and not the other options. The circular gradient could come in handy too. I like outer glow to create feathered fades. Feathering is fun too
Thanks for sharing these great resources – bookmarked!
Nice one,
Thanks for sharing.
Definitely the holly grail of gradient resources, the gradient generators look great definitely going to use that resource. bookmarked!