Gradient Tutorial with MS Paint

I use hypercam to show how to make gradients in MS Paint, because I didn't feel like buying Photoshop or downloading GIMP.

To Create a gradient in MS Paint
Step 1: Open Paint
Step 2: Set Attributes to 125 by 125 Pixels/Points
Step 3: Choose a color and choose the line option, setting thickness of the line to whatever you want
Step 4: Make a DIAGONAL line across the white box with the line, ideally from one end to another
Step 5: Add more lines as necessary (if you want to make a two color gradient you only need one line)
Step 6: Take the fill bucket and fill in, from top to bottom/left to right/whatever, the color(s) corresponding to the line(s) you made
Step 7: Fill in the bottom/right/last area with the ending gradient color (if necessary)
Step 8: Using "Ctrl+W" or the Stretch and Skew command, with nothing selected, set the Horizontal (for horizontal lines like in my tutorial) or Vertical (for vertical lines) percentage boxes to 1 (since 1 is the lowest level setting) to create a two pixel (tall/wide) gradient
Step 9: Repeat for a one pixel (tall/wide) gradient
Step 10: You have now created your gradient

Viewing your gradient
If you want a better view of your gradient:
Step 1: Use "Ctrl+W" or Stretch and Skew command again and set the corresponding setting you used to shrink the image (i.e. Horizontal or vertical) to 500 (the maximum setting)
Step 2: Repeat Step 1 two more times to make the gradient into a 125 by 125 box image again
Step 3: For better image quality set hardware acceleration to Full and your color settings to 16 bit or higher
Step 4: Use your gradient to make better background images, or other uses which I'll probably upload next

This tool is handy to liven up backgrounds, create interesting blur or glow effects (with some effort) and other uses!

Note: Sometimes the gradients will not form if done repeatedly. To fix this, simply close MS Paint completely, and reopen it with a new file.

Enjoy!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• gradients;
• tutorial;
• Microsoft;
• Paint;
• backgrounds;

[tyran424]

if you want to use photoshop but dont want to spend money, download gimp... does all the same stuff for free

[mindscapejem]

Yeah, but if you hit "more info" it explains that I also "didn't feel like...downloading GIMP". I'll probably use gimp if I want to go more in depth with image editing, but for now, I like what paint is capable of producing.

[luvmyartist]

wow, thanx so much, that was REALLY helpful!

[EverMuro1997]

didnt work... ):

[TFProDucTioNs16]

Doesnt work for me!!!

[Lolracok2]

YAY IT WORKED IT WORKED THANKS YOU DUDE! :D OH yes yes you deserve sub :)

[BlueKiss131]

I am sooooo grateful that you have made this video, it's very very helpful!!! Thank you!!

[jamgrieve]

I realize that this is like 3 years old but whatever. 70 dpi is for the internet. You should be using 70 dpi for this tutorial. Anyway, this is pretty cool considering its just Paint. I surely hope you downloaded GIMP/any other good Open Source program by now.

[TheEspeonStarGem]

Sweet! now ik how CuteFlareon did her bgs <3 thanks!

[toontownrox406]

stop blowing at the microphone o.o

[castformation]

Wait does this make it so if I save a picture it won't get pixelated? Help

[karateboy1105]

This is cool and all.. But JESUS get your mouth away from the microphone! All I can hear is SSSPPPPHHSUBSCRIBESSPPH!