Gradient Tool

Apply smooth two-colour gradients to shapes and objects. Choose start and end colours, direction, and smoothness.

How to use the Gradient tool

Select the Gradient tool from the toolbar. The context panel opens with gradient options.

Choose a Start Colour. Click the start colour swatch to open the colour picker.

Choose an End Colour. Click the end colour swatch and select your second colour.

Set the number of steps (2-50). More steps = smoother gradient. Default is 20.

Choose direction. Click one of the three direction buttons: horizontal (left-right), vertical (top-bottom), or diagonal.

Click Apply Gradient. The gradient is now active.

Click a shape or object to apply the gradient fill to it. The object must be on the object layer (not yet flattened to bitmap).

Gradient directions

Horizontal →

Flows left to right. Great for sunsets, horizons, and side-lit subjects.

Vertical ↓

Flows top to bottom. Perfect for skies, water reflections, and tall objects.

Diagonal ↘

Flows corner to corner. Adds dynamic movement and corner-lighting effects.

Object layer only: Gradients are applied to object-layer shapes (rectangles, circles, polygons). They cannot be applied directly to bitmap-painted areas. Use the Gradient tool before flattening your objects.

Tips

Preview with direction buttons

The direction buttons update live with your chosen colours so you can preview before applying.

Sky effects

Use a blue-to-white vertical gradient on a rectangle covering the top of the canvas for a convincing sky.

3D depth

Apply a dark-to-light horizontal gradient to a circle to simulate a sphere with a light source.

Keyboard shortcuts

Ctrl+Z — Undo last gradient application
Click solid colour swatch — Return to solid colour mode