Expert: LizaL - 7/12/2005

Question
Hi Lisa,

     My question is concerning my actual photoshop settings I think is the problem but I coculd be wrong. My gradients are absolutly horrible they look so cheesy and have like noticable lines going down it, like thick lines. It could be my screen which is a dell lcd 15inch monitor I dont knwo the exact model. BTW Im trying to get my site to get the gradients that are similar to the one in this site:

http://www.nitzdesign.se

Thanks for your time,
David S.

info: using ps 7.0 everything mostly default but I could of messed with it and not known.

Answer
Hi David,

Gradients can be tricky. The effect you're getting is called "banding," and happens a lot when printing gradients -- but it can happen onscreen, as well.

Try making your gradients with more color stops -- in other words, maybe you'd set up a red-to-black gradient like this:
http://little-works.com/all_experts/gradients.png

See how I've added more color stops (along the bottom of the bar)? Also, make sure your Smoothness is set to 100%.

That said, it could just be your monitor. Try saving the file to CD and viewing it at a friend's house, or upload it and look at it on another monitor.

But first I'd try adding more color stops. Post back if this doesn't work, and we'll try something else.

Hope this helps!

Lisa