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How to Create 5 Awesome Gradient Effects in Adobe InDesign

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Read Time: 13 min
Final product imageFinal product imageFinal product image
What You'll Be Creating

Gradient effects are super easy to achieve in InDesign, and they're an instant way of bringing your layouts bang up-to-date. 

Read on to discover how to make five high-impact gradient effects, from duotone to neon-pastel, that would look fantastic on posters, flyers, stationery, or magazine designs. And if you prefer video tutorials, you'll love this new video from the Envato Tuts YouTube channel! Ashlee Harrell will teach you how to make five amazing InDesign gradients inspired by the techniques you'll learn here:

If you want to make your gradient InDesign effects truly unique, you can easily add cool typography over the top of your design, just as Ashlee will cover. Head over to Envato Elements to source great fonts for your next project. You can also find some awesome gradient resources there:

What You'll Learn in This InDesign Gradient Tutorial

  • How to make a simple duotone gradient effect
  • How to make a blackout gradient effect
  • How to make a Pride gradient effect
  • How to make a pastel and neon double gradient effect
  • How to make a retro gradient effect

What You’ll Need to Create Your InDesign Gradient Effects

All you need is access to Adobe InDesign to create the majority of these effects. 

1. How to Make a Simple Duotone Gradient Effect

This is the simplest gradient effect to achieve, and it looks amazing as a background or as a fill color for shapes or text. 

Step 1

Let's learn how to make a gradient in InDesign! Open InDesign and go to File > New > Document. You can set the page to any size you prefer.

If you’re creating your gradient effects for print (as I am here), make sure the Intent is set to Print. For online-friendly images, set the Intent to Web

With your document created, expand the Swatches panel (Window > Color > Swatches)

Choose New Color Swatch from the panel’s drop-down menu (at top-right). Set the Color Mode to CMYK for print or RGB for web, and set the levels to C=0 M=82 Y=24 K=0 or R=234 G=76 B=125.

Click Add and OK.

Create a second new InDesign gradient color swatch, C=0 M=17 Y=85 K=0 or R=255 G=211 B=50.

yellow swatchyellow swatchyellow swatch

Step 2

Choose New Gradient Swatch from the Swatches panel’s menu. 

new gradient swatchnew gradient swatchnew gradient swatch

Name the swatch Duotone Gradient, set the Type to Linear, and choose Swatches from the Stop Color menu. 

Click on the left-hand stop on the Gradient Ramp and set this to your first pink swatch, C=0 M=82 Y=24 K=0. Set the right-hand stop to the yellow swatch, C=0 M=17 Y=85 K=0.

Click Add and OK.

new gradient swatchnew gradient swatchnew gradient swatch

Step 3

Create a shape on the page you’d like to apply the gradient to. Use the Rectangle Tool (M) to create a background shape. Here I’ve used the Ellipse Tool (L) to create a circle (holding Shift to keep the proportions).

ellipse toolellipse toolellipse tool

Apply the Duotone Gradient swatch to the Fill Color of the shape from the Swatches panel.

duotone swatchduotone swatchduotone swatch

If you're wondering how to edit gradients in InDesign, you can use the Gradient panel (Window > Color > Gradient) to adjust the Angle of the gradient until you're happy with the result.

angle of gradientangle of gradientangle of gradient
duotone effectduotone effectduotone effect

2. How to Make a Blackout Gradient Effect

This is a high-impact gradient InDesign that gives an eclipse effect. This works best as a standalone effect using a circle design. Why not try placing text or an image inside the inner circle for extra impact? This is a simple idea if you want to edit the gradient in InDesign.

Step 1

Let's see how to create a gradient in InDesign. From the Swatches panel (Window > Color > Swatches), choose Create New Swatch. Create a hot pink swatch, C=0 M=87 Y=2 K=0 or R=232 G=59 B=140. And if you're wondering how to change the gradient color in InDesign, the only thing you need to do is create a new swatch with the colors you prefer.

Create two more new InDesign gradient color swatches:

  • C=1 M=14 Y=63 K=0 or R=254 G=219 B=117 
  • C=0 M=92 Y=99 K=0 or R=229 G=45 B=20 
swatch optionsswatch optionsswatch options

Step 2

Choose New Gradient Swatch from the Swatches panel’s menu. 

Name the swatch Blackout Gradient, set the Type to Linear and choose Swatches from the Stop Color menu. 

Click on the left-hand stop on the Gradient Ramp and set this to your hot pink swatch, C=0 M=87 Y=2 K=0. Set the right-hand stop to the pale yellow swatch, C=0 M=92 Y=99 K=0.

Click on the ramp about a third across from the left to add a third stop, setting this to your red swatch, C=0 M=92 Y=99 K=0.

blackout gradientblackout gradientblackout gradient

Step 3

Take the Ellipse Tool (L) and drag onto the page to create a small circle. Set the Fill Color to [Black].

small circlesmall circlesmall circle

Then create a second larger circle over the top, setting the Fill to Blackout Gradient. 

large circlelarge circlelarge circle

Right-Click on this larger circle and choose Arrange > Send to Back. 

send to backsend to backsend to back
circle behindcircle behindcircle behind

Step 4

With the Blackout Gradient circle selected, go to Object on the top main menu and choose Effects > Gradient Feather.

Set the Type to Radial, and move the dark stop on the ramp about two-thirds of the way along. 

gradient feathergradient feathergradient feather

Click OK to exit the window. 

gradient appliedgradient appliedgradient applied

Step 5

Edit > Copy and Edit > Paste the gradient circle, sending it to the back as before. Scale it up to a slightly larger size and position it towards the top-left of the design.

pasted circlepasted circlepasted circle

Edit > Paste again, moving this circle to the bottom-right of the design. 

circle pastedcircle pastedcircle pasted
blackout effectblackout effectblackout effect

3. How to Make a Pride Gradient Effect

Show your support of Pride this summer (LGBT Pride Month takes place in June) with this gradient set in the colors of the Pride flag. And if you're after a rainbow gradient background, this is a great option.

Step 1

From the Swatches panel (Window > Color > Swatches), choose Create New Swatch. Create a red swatch, C=0 M=93 Y=86 K=0 or R=230 G=42 B=40.

Create five more new InDesign gradient color swatches:

  • C=0 M=60 Y=83 K=0 or R=240 G=127 B=54 
  • C=8 M=6 Y=93 K=0 or R=245 G=222 B=0
  • C=80 M=3 Y=86 K=0 or R=12 G=164 B=81
  • C=82 M=63 Y=0 K=0 or R=66 G=96 B=169
  • C=38 M=93 Y=0 K=0 or R=171 G=45 B=136 
swatch optionsswatch optionsswatch options

Step 2

Choose New Gradient Swatch from the Swatches panel’s menu. 

Name the swatch Pride Gradient, set the Type to Linear, and choose Swatches from the Stop Color menu. 

Click on the left-hand stop on the Gradient Ramp and set this to your new red swatch, C=0 M=93 Y=86 K=0. Set the right-hand stop to the violet swatch, C=38 M=93 Y=0 K=0.

Click on the ramp to add four more stops, setting them to (from left to right) orange, yellow, green, and blue from your palette of new swatches. 

Then click Add and OK

pride gradientpride gradientpride gradient

Step 3

Create a shape on the page you’d like to apply the gradient to. Here I’ve used the Ellipse Tool (L) to create a circle (holding Shift to keep the proportions).

ellipse toolellipse toolellipse tool

Apply the Pride Gradient swatch to the Fill Color of the shape from the Swatches panel.

fill colorfill colorfill color

You can use the Gradient panel (Window > Color > Gradient) to adjust the Angle of the gradient.

angle of gradientangle of gradientangle of gradient

Step 4

If it works better for a rainbow gradient background, you can set the shape against a dark background for impact.

Use the Rectangle Tool (M) to create a frame across the whole page and set the Fill Color to [Black]. Right-Click on the shape and choose Arrange > Send to Back. 

black backgroundblack backgroundblack background
rainbow pride effectrainbow pride effectrainbow pride effect

4. How to Make a Pastel and Neon Double Gradient Effect

This is a popular take on the neon gradient and pastel gradient trends that look incredible on posters and magazine covers. It’s simple to create, and you can switch up colors to create an almost endless range of results. Using the Swatches panel, learning how to change gradient color in InDesign isn't difficult at all.

Step 1

From the Swatches panel (Window > Color > Swatches), choose Create New Swatch. Create a lavender swatch, C=14 M=65 Y=0 K=0 or R=215 G=119 B=174.

Create three more new InDesign gradient color swatches:

  • C=59 M=0 Y=6 K=0 or R=98 G=198 B=233 
  • C=0 M=33 Y=22 K=0 or R=248 G=192 B=186
  • C=0 M=86 Y=7 K=0 or R=233 G=62 B=136
swatch optionsswatch optionsswatch options

Step 2

Choose New Gradient Swatch from the Swatches panel’s menu. 

Name the swatch Background Gradient, set the Type to Linear and choose Swatches from the Stop Color menu. 

Click on the left-hand stop on the Gradient Ramp and set this to your new lavender swatch, C=14 M=65 Y=0 K=0. Set the right-hand stop to the blue swatch, C=59 M=0 Y=6 K=0.

Then click Add and OK

background gradientbackground gradientbackground gradient

Step 3

Create a second New Gradient Swatch. Name this swatch Foreground Gradient, set the Type to Linear, and choose Swatches from the Stop Color menu. 

Click on the left-hand stop on the Gradient Ramp and set this to your pale pink swatch, C=0 M=33 Y=22 K=0. Set the right-hand stop to the bright pink swatch, C=0 M=86 Y=7 K=0. Click Add and OK

new gradient swatchnew gradient swatchnew gradient swatch

Step 4

Create a shape on the page you’d like to apply the gradient to. Here I’ve used the Ellipse Tool (L) to create a circle.

Apply the Foreground Gradient swatch to the Fill Color of the shape from the Swatches panel.

circle gradientcircle gradientcircle gradient

Step 5

Create a shape across the whole page using the Rectangle Tool (M) and Right-Click > Arrange > Send to Back.

Apply the Background Gradient swatch to the Fill Color of the shape, and here's a neon gradient!

background gradientbackground gradientbackground gradient

To edit the gradient in InDesign, you can adjust the Angle of the gradient and strength of each of the colors from the Gradient panel (Window > Color > Gradient). The result is a cool pastel gradient background!

gradient anglegradient anglegradient angle
final double gradientfinal double gradientfinal double gradient

5. How to Make a Retro Gradient Effect

This funky retro gradient effect takes inspiration from 1960s and 70s graphic design. It’s a more chunky, dissected take on the retro gradient trend, and it's great for giving typography a retro flavor. 

For this gradient InDesign effect, you’ll need an extra bold sans-serif font like Bolgart Sans Serif Display Font.

Step 1

From the Swatches panel (Window > Color > Swatches), choose Create New Swatch from the panel’s main menu. 

Create a yellow swatch, C=3 M=6 Y=91 K=0 or R=255 G=226 B=9.

Create ten more new swatches, to create a full rainbow palette plus one pale swatch and one dark swatch:

  • C=0 M=44 Y=93 K=0 or R=246 G=159 B=25 
  • C=0 M=59 Y=94 K=0 or R=240 G=128 B=26
  • C=0 M=92 Y=92 K=0 or R=230 G=45 B=32
  • C=0 M=93 Y=0 K=0 or R=231 G=36 B=134
  • C=77 M=100 Y=0 K=0 or R=98 G=36 B=131
  • C=100 M=90 Y=22 K=5 or R=39 G=52 B=117
  • C=73 M=9 Y=4 K=0 or R=6 G=173 B=224
  • C=77 M=4 Y=47 K=0 or R=0 G=170 B=155
  • C=7 M=3 Y=17 K=0 or R=242 G=241 B=222
  • C=72 M=67 Y=59 K=79 or R=35 G=31 B=32
swatch optionsswatch optionsswatch options

Step 2

Use the Type Tool (T) to create a large text frame across the bottom of the page. 

Type in a single word, such as ‘Hey’, and from either the top Controls panel or the Character panel (Window > Type & Tables > Character), set the Font to Charlevoix Pro ExtraBold. Blow up the Font Size so that the text extends across the whole page, crossing the trim edge on both sides.

Set your Type Tool cursor between each of the letters and reduce the Kerning (letter-spacing) from the Character panel, so that the letters are pushed closer together. 

Set the Font Color, from the Swatches panel, to your new yellow swatch, C=3 M=6 Y=91 K=0.

yellow swatchyellow swatchyellow swatch

Step 3

Select the text frame and Edit > Copy, Edit > Paste in Place, using the arrow keys to move this second frame upwards slightly. 

Adjust the Font Color to your orange swatch, C=0 M=44 Y=93 K=0.

orange swatchorange swatchorange swatch

Step 4

Continue to Edit > Paste in Place more text frames, shifting them upwards and adjusting the Font Color until you have created a gradual rainbow effect, as shown below. 

colored framescolored framescolored frames

For your final text frame, set the Font Color to your off-black swatch, C=72 M=67 Y=59 K=79.

pasted framespasted framespasted frames

Step 5

To add a final retro vibe to your effect, create a shape across the whole page using the Rectangle Tool (M) and Right-Click on it and Arrange > Send to Back.

Set the Fill Color to the beige swatch, C=7 M=3 Y=17 K=0.

black textblack textblack text
final effectfinal effectfinal effect

Hey! Awesome Work!

And there we have it! You learned how to create a gradient in InDesign, how to edit gradients in InDesign, how to change the gradient color in InDesign, and more. You have five quick and effective InDesign gradient effects that can transform any lacklustre layout. Need a pastel gradient background or a rainbow gradient background? Now you can easily make them yourself!

Why not add cool typography to your gradient designs to transform them into posters or flyers? Head over to Envato Elements to source great fonts and graphics for your next project.

Looking for more InDesign tutorials? Don't miss these:

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