How to add gradients in After Effects

Gradients make backgrounds and shapes feel more polished and dimensional — they add visual interest instantly.

Steps to add gradients

Create a Solid or Shape Layer, then apply Effect → Generate → Gradient Ramp (or 4-Color Gradient if you want extra color points).

Set Start and End points to control the angle and spread of the gradient.

Adjust colors until you get a smooth transition, and use Ramp Scatter to reduce banding if you see visible steps.

One more thing

For smoother gradients without banding, switch your project to 16 bpc or 32 bpc — click the 8bpc toggle at the bottom of the Project panel. Higher bit depth gives you more color information, so gradients blend seamlessly instead of showing visible steps.

Related how-tos

How to add gradient ramp background in After Effects
How to make glowing text in After Effects
How to add drop shadow in After Effects

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