# Gradient problem (stepping)

**URL:** https://forum.kirupa.com/t/gradient-problem-stepping/160546
**Category:** design
**Created:** [August 26, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/gradient-problem-stepping/160546 "2005-08-26T20:05:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![DeclineD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@DeclineD](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/DeclineD)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/gradient-problem-stepping/160546/1 "2005-08-26T20:05:06Z")

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I’ve encountered this problem before, but didn’t really pay attention to it. But now it happened again and I can’t fix it no matter what I try!

Whenever I apply a gradient in Photoshop (wether it is for an illustration or a photograph) I don’t get a smooth gradient but there are distinct & harsh transitions between the colours.  
You have to zoom in to see it well, but it’s obviously there.

Blurring the layer doesn’t help at all.  
The problem also gets a _lot_ worse when you apply a filter or some sort of adjustments like levels or colour correction.

I’ve tried using 16bit colours, importing an illustrator-generated gradient, …  
Photographing a gradient seems like half-a-solution but that’s obviously not a comfortable way to handle this…  
I know it’s called “stepping”. I tried to find a solution with a teacher from school but we couldn’t seem to fix this.

It’s really annoying since it looks bad on screen but _ **really** _ ugly & amateurish in print…  
Is there anyone who’s had this problem and was able to fix it?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!