How to Make a Gradient in MS Paint

Last Updated: April 17, 2021

Think only fancy programs like GIMP and Photoshop can make gradient? Well, think again! With a bit of messing around, Paint can give gradient just as good!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using "Resize and Skew"

1
Using the line tool, draw a diagonal line across the page
2
Fill one side in with the paint bucket. The color can be any that you want, but in this case, black is used.

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3
Click on "Resize" and change the "Horizontal" value to "1"
4
When you have finished that, go to resize skew again, and this time switch horizontal to 500
5
Repeat steps 3&4 one more time and execute step 4 for a couple of times to have a better result
6
Now you have your gradient!

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Editing Colors Manually

1
You can also manually edit colors to create gradients. To do this, start with one color.
2
With that color selected, go to "Edit Colors" and change the color slightly. Make sure it's different enough that you can see it, but not so different that it will look choppy.
3
Add that new color next to the original color.
4
Repeat the process multiple times. If you are making a blue-purple gradient, for example, start with blue and make it gradually more purple.
5
Have patience! This method takes a really long time, but it also allows you to blend the gradient in any direction. It will be worth it.

Community Q&A

Question

My height keeps changing with my width. How can I keep this from happening?

Odina Rose

Community Answer

When you go to the "Resize and Skew" part, there's a box that's labeled "Maintain Aspect Ratio." This box keeps the ratio between height and width the same, so unchecking it will allow you to change one measurement without changing the other.
Question

When I change the horizontal the vertical changes, too. How do I only change one?

Community Answer

If you see under the horizontal and vertical values there is a check box that says, "Maintain aspect ratio," untick that.
Question

How do I use a gradient in a certain section? I am drawing a character and want her hair to be a gradient.

Community Answer

First, you would make the gradient in another image and save it. Next, you would open the image with the character. Make the hair a color that's not the same color as the background or any color that anything else is using, and change Color 2 to that. Turn on "Transparent" selection from the "Select" drop-down menu. Do the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+A, and cut the image. Ctrl+A selects the whole image. Press the drop-down menu from the clipboard. Choose "Paste from" and choose the image with the image. Resize the gradient if you need to. Then do Ctrl+V to paste the original image. Move the image so you are satisfied with the gradient.