🎨 Advanced Gradient Generator

A powerful, feature-rich gradient generator that lets you create beautiful animated multi-color gradients for your web projects. Built with vanilla JavaScript, this tool offers professional-grade features including animations, advanced color picker, gradient library management, and multiple export formats.

📸 Screenshots

Main gradient generator interface with animation controls and live preview

Advanced color picker with HSL controls, harmony generator, and eyedropper tool

📋 Table of Contents

• ✨ Features
• 🚀 Getting Started
• 🎮 How to Use
• 🏗️ Project Structure
• 🎯 Use Cases
• 🔧 Customization
• 🌐 Browser Support
• ❓ FAQ & Troubleshooting
• 🗺️ Roadmap
• 🤝 Contributing
• 📜 License

✨ Features

🎬 Animation System

• Multiple Animation Types: Rotate, Shift, Pulse, and Static options
• Speed Control: Adjustable animation speed from 0.5x to 5x
• Direction Control: Forward and reverse animations
• Real-time Preview: See animations as you create them
• Timeline Editor: Advanced keyframe-based animation system with custom easing functions

🎨 Advanced Color Management

• Unlimited Color Stops: Add as many gradient stops as needed
• Advanced Color Picker: HSL sliders, RGB inputs, hex values
• Color Harmony Generator: Complementary, triadic, analogous, and monochromatic schemes
• Eyedropper Tool: Pick colors directly from your screen (supported browsers)
• Recent Colors: Automatic tracking of recently used colors
• Color Palette Extraction: Extract colors from images or websites

🎭 Pattern & Texture Overlays

• Pattern Types: Noise, stripes, dots, waves, and more
• Advanced Textures: Paper, canvas, fabric, metal, glass, concrete, and wood
• Custom Uploads: Upload your own textures and SVG patterns
• Procedural Patterns: Perlin noise, Voronoi, fractal, and cellular patterns
• Blend Modes: 12+ blend modes including multiply, screen, overlay, and soft-light

🕸️ Mesh Gradient Mode

• Interactive Mesh Grid: Create complex multi-point gradients
• Grid Sizes: 2×2, 3×3, and 4×4 configurations
• Click-to-Edit: Easy color selection for each mesh point
• Randomization: Instant creative variations

🎭 Gradient Masks

• Shape Masks: Circle, ellipse, polygon, heart, and star
• Custom SVG Paths: Define your own mask shapes
• Edge Blur Control: Smooth mask edges
• Size Adjustment: Scale masks to fit your needs

🗂️ Gradient Library

• Favorites System: Save and organize your best gradients
• Collections: Group gradients by project or theme
• Search & Filter: Find gradients quickly with tags and names
• Import/Export: Share gradient libraries with others
• 12 Built-in Presets: Professional gradient starting points
• Community Feed: Browse trending and popular gradients

🤖 AI-Powered Features

• Similar Gradients: Generate variations of your current gradient
• Mood-Based Suggestions: 10+ mood categories from energetic to futuristic
• Brand Palette Generator: Create cohesive color schemes from a single brand color
• Seasonal Trends: Explore gradients for spring, summer, autumn, winter, and design trends

🎨 Advanced Gradient Combinations

• Layer Multiple Gradients: Stack gradients with different blend modes
• Mix Two Gradients: Blend between two gradients with adjustable ratio
• Morph Animation: Generate smooth transitions between gradients
• Split-Screen Compare: Side-by-side gradient comparison

🖱️ Interactive Canvas

• Visual Editing: Click and drag to reposition color stops
• Double-Click Add: Add new stops anywhere on the canvas
• Right-Click Remove: Remove stops with context menu
• Bezier Curves: Create smooth color transitions
• Gradient Warping: Enable advanced gradient distortion

♿ Accessibility Features

• Contrast Checker: WCAG AA/AAA compliance testing
• Color Blindness Simulation: 8+ types including protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia
• Readability Score: Real-time text readability analysis
• WCAG Compliance Report: Comprehensive accessibility audit

⚡ Performance Optimization

• CSS Complexity Analysis: Track code efficiency
• Performance Impact Score: Measure rendering performance
• File Size Estimation: Know before you export
• Browser Compatibility: Check support across Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge
• Auto-Optimization: Generate optimized CSS and fallbacks

🔧 Professional Tools

• Multiple Gradient Types: Linear, radial, and conic gradients
• Full Control: Adjust angles, positions, and color stops precisely
• Live Demos: See how gradients look on cards, buttons, and text
• Share URLs: Generate shareable links with all gradient settings
• QR Code Generation: Quick mobile sharing
• Embed Code: Integrate gradients into websites

📤 Export Options

• CSS: Standard CSS with animation keyframes
• Tailwind: Tailwind CSS classes and utilities
• React: JSX-ready style objects
• SCSS: Variables and mixins for Sass projects
• Vue: Vue.js code
• Svelte: Svelte component code
• Angular: Angular template syntax
• Flutter: Dart gradient code
• SwiftUI: Swift gradient declarations
• Styled Components: CSS-in-JS format
• Emotion: Emotion CSS syntax
• CSS Variables: Custom properties format
• PNG/SVG Downloads: High-quality image exports (Full HD, 2K, 4K)
• GIF/MP4: Animated gradient exports

🤝 Collaboration & Sharing

• Social Media Previews: Generate cards for Twitter and Facebook
• Platform Sharing: Direct sharing to Dribbble, Behance, Twitter, and Pinterest
• WordPress & Shopify: Export format-specific code snippets
• Figma & Sketch: Design tool integration formats

🎓 Learning & Onboarding

• Interactive Tutorial: Step-by-step guided tour
• Keyboard Shortcuts: Efficient workflow with hotkeys
• Context Help: Tooltips and inline guidance
• Video Export: Create gradient animation videos

🚀 Getting Started

Quick Start

1. Clone the repository

   git clone https://github.com/rembertdesigns/gradient-generator.git
   cd gradient-generator

2. Open in browser

# Simply open index.html in your browser
   open index.html
   # or
   python -m http.server 8000  # For local development server

3. Start creating!

• Adjust color stops by clicking on color inputs
• Change gradient type and angle
• Add animations and export your creation

No Build Process Required

This project uses vanilla JavaScript, HTML, and CSS - no complex build tools or dependencies needed!

🎮 How to Use

Creating Your First Gradient

1. Choose Colors: Click on color stops to open the advanced color picker
2. Adjust Positions: Drag the position sliders to move color stops
3. Set Type & Angle: Choose linear, radial, or conic gradients
4. Add Animation: Select rotation, shift, or pulse effects
5. Export: Copy CSS, download images, or save to favorites

Advanced Features

Pattern & Texture Overlays

1. Navigate to the "Pattern & Effects" section
2. Select a pattern type (noise, stripes, dots, waves)
3. Adjust intensity and scale sliders
4. Choose blend modes for unique effects
5. Upload custom textures for personalized looks

Mesh Gradient Mode

1. Enable mesh mode with the toggle switch
2. Select grid size (2×2, 3×3, or 4×4)
3. Click on grid points to change colors
4. Use randomize for instant variations
5. Reset to start fresh

Interactive Canvas Editing

1. Enable interactive mode on the canvas
2. Click and drag color stops to reposition
3. Double-click to add new stops
4. Right-click stops to remove them
5. Adjust bezier intensity for smooth transitions

Timeline Animation Editor

1. Add keyframes at different time points
2. Set gradient appearance for each keyframe
3. Choose easing functions (linear, ease, bounce, etc.)
4. Play/pause to preview animation
5. Export as CSS keyframes or video

AI-Powered Suggestions

1. Go to "AI-Powered Suggestions" section
2. Generate similar gradients with variation control
3. Explore mood-based gradients (energetic, calm, romantic, etc.)
4. Create brand palettes from a single color
5. Discover seasonal and trending gradients

Accessibility Testing

1. Open "Accessibility Checker" section
2. Test contrast ratios with different text colors
3. Simulate 8+ types of color blindness
4. Review WCAG compliance report
5. Get suggestions for improvements

Color Palette Extraction

1. Upload an image or enter a website URL
2. Extract color palette automatically
3. Apply extracted colors to your gradient
4. Save palettes for later use

🏗️ Project Structure

gradient-generator/
├── index.html          # Main HTML structure with all features
├── style.css           # Complete styling and animations
├── main.js             # Core application logic
└── README.md           # This file

Architecture Highlights

• Class-based JavaScript: Clean, maintainable code structure
• CSS Grid & Flexbox: Responsive, modern layouts
• Local Storage: Persistent favorites and settings
• Modular Design: Easy to extend and customize
• Canvas API: Advanced pattern generation and export
• Web APIs: EyeDropper, FileReader, and more

🎯 Use Cases

For Developers

• Rapid Prototyping: Quickly generate gradients for mockups
• Production Ready: Export clean, optimized CSS
• Framework Integration: Support for React, Vue, Angular, Flutter, SwiftUI, and more
• Design Systems: Consistent gradient libraries across projects
• Accessibility Testing: Ensure WCAG compliance
• Performance Optimization: Analyze and optimize gradient complexity

For Designers

• Visual Exploration: Real-time gradient experimentation
• Color Harmony: Built-in color theory tools
• Asset Generation: High-quality PNG/SVG/GIF/MP4 exports
• Collaboration: Shareable gradient collections
• Mesh Gradients: Create complex multi-point gradients
• Brand Identity: Generate cohesive color palettes

For Content Creators

• Social Media Assets: Export optimized cards for platforms
• Video Backgrounds: Generate animated gradient videos
• Website Embeds: Easy integration code
• QR Codes: Mobile-friendly sharing

🔧 Customization

Adding New Animation Types

// In main.js, extend the animation system
updateAnimation() {
    // Add your custom animation logic here
    if (this.animationType === 'your-animation') {
        // Custom animation implementation
    }
}

Custom Color Presets

// Add to the presets array in loadPresets()
const customPresets = [
    { name: 'Your Brand', gradient: 'linear-gradient(45deg, #yourcolor1, #yourcolor2)' },
    // Add more presets
];

Adding New Patterns

// In the pattern generation section
generatePattern(type) {
    switch(type) {
        case 'your-pattern':
            // Custom pattern generation logic
            break;
    }
}

Theming

Modify CSS custom properties in style.css:

:root {
    --primary-color: #667eea;
    --secondary-color: #764ba2;
    --background-blur: 10px;
    /* Customize colors and effects */
}

🌐 Browser Support

• Chrome/Edge: Full support including eyedropper tool
• Firefox: Full support (eyedropper coming soon)
• Safari: Full support with minor animation differences
• Mobile: Responsive design works on all devices

Feature Support by Browser

Feature	Chrome	Firefox	Safari	Edge
Basic Gradients	✅	✅	✅	✅
Animations	✅	✅	✅	✅
Eyedropper	✅	⏳	⏳	✅
Canvas Export	✅	✅	✅	✅
Mesh Gradients	✅	✅	✅	✅
Timeline Editor	✅	✅	✅	✅

📱 Responsive Design

The generator is fully responsive and works beautifully on:

• Desktop: Full-featured experience with all tools
• Tablet: Optimized layout with touch-friendly controls
• Mobile: Streamlined interface with essential features

❓ FAQ & Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Q: Animations aren't working on my browser A: Animations use CSS transforms and may have limited support on older browsers. Try updating your browser or disabling hardware acceleration if you experience performance issues.

Q: Eyedropper tool says "not supported" A: The EyeDropper API is currently supported in Chrome/Edge 95+. Firefox and Safari support is coming soon. You can still manually enter color values.

Q: My gradients look different when exported A: Some complex gradients with many color stops might render differently across browsers. Test your exported CSS in your target browsers for consistency.

Q: Local storage data is gone A: Favorites and collections are stored in browser local storage. Clear browser data or incognito mode will reset these. Use the export feature to backup your gradients.

Q: Can I use this for commercial projects? A: Yes! This project is MIT licensed, so you can use generated gradients in any project, commercial or personal.

Q: How do I use the mesh gradient feature? A: Enable mesh mode in the Mesh Gradient section, select your grid size, and click on grid points to change colors. You can also randomize for quick variations.

Q: Can I extract colors from images? A: Yes! Use the Color Palette Extraction section to upload images or enter website URLs. The tool will automatically extract the dominant colors.

Q: How do I test if my gradient is accessible? A: Use the Accessibility Checker section to test contrast ratios, simulate color blindness, and get WCAG compliance reports with improvement suggestions.

Performance Tips

• Limit animations on mobile devices for better battery life
• Use fewer color stops for smoother gradients
• Export static CSS for production instead of keeping animations
• Test performance impact score before using complex patterns
• Generate optimized CSS for better rendering

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Ctrl/Cmd + S: Save to Favorites
• Ctrl/Cmd + C: Copy CSS
• Ctrl/Cmd + Z: Undo
• Ctrl/Cmd + Y: Redo
• Alt + R: Random Gradient
• Alt + D: Toggle Dark Mode
• Space: Play/Pause Animation
• ?: Show Keyboard Shortcuts

🗺️ Roadmap

Recently Added ✅

• Mesh Gradient Mode: Multi-point gradient system with interactive grid
• Advanced Patterns & Textures: 7+ texture types with custom upload support
• Timeline Animation Editor: Keyframe-based animations with custom easing
• Accessibility Suite: Contrast checker, color blindness simulation, WCAG compliance
• AI-Powered Suggestions: Similar gradients, mood-based, brand palettes, seasonal trends
• Color Palette Extraction: From images and websites
• Gradient Combinations: Layer, mix, morph, and compare modes
• Interactive Canvas: Visual gradient editing with bezier curves
• Gradient Masks: Shape masks with custom SVG support
• Performance Tools: Optimization analysis and browser compatibility
• Extended Export Options: 13+ format including Flutter, SwiftUI, and video
• Collaboration Features: QR codes, embeds, social media cards
• Community Feed: Browse trending gradients
• Tutorial System: Interactive onboarding

Near Term (Next Release)

• 3D Gradient Preview: WebGL-powered 3D visualization
• Gradient Animation Presets: Pre-built animation templates
• Collaborative Editing: Real-time multi-user editing
• Version History: Track gradient changes over time
• Custom Easing Curves: Visual bezier curve editor
• Gradient Interpolation: Smart color mixing algorithms

Medium Term (Next 3 Months)

• AI Color Naming: Automatic gradient name generation
• Advanced Morphing: Multi-gradient transition sequences
• Design System Integration: Figma/Sketch plugin support
• Mobile App: Progressive Web App with offline support
• Team Workspaces: Organization-level gradient libraries
• API Access: Programmatic gradient generation

Long Term (6+ Months)

• Machine Learning: Smart gradient recommendations based on usage
• 3D Mesh Gradients: Volumetric gradient rendering
• AR Preview: See gradients in augmented reality
• Cloud Sync: Cross-device gradient synchronization
• Marketplace: Share and sell gradient packs
• Integration SDK: Embed generator in other applications

Community Requested

• Gradient to Code: Reverse engineer gradients from images
• Batch Processing: Generate multiple gradient variations
• Color Spaces: Support for LAB, LCH, and other color spaces
• Gradient Blending Modes: Advanced mixing techniques
• Print Optimization: CMYK export for print design

Have an idea? Open an issue or contribute to the discussion!

🤝 Contributing

We welcome contributions! Please read our Contributing Guidelines and Code of Conduct before getting started.

Quick Start for Contributors

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch: git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature
3. Commit changes: git commit -m 'Add amazing feature'
4. Push to branch: git push origin feature/amazing-feature
5. Open a Pull Request

Ideas for Contributions

• New animation types
• Additional export formats
• Color accessibility tools
• Performance optimizations
• UI/UX improvements
• Documentation improvements
• Bug fixes and testing
• New pattern types
• Mesh gradient enhancements
• AI suggestion improvements

Development Setup

# Clone your fork
git clone https://github.com/yourusername/gradient-generator.git
cd gradient-generator

# Create a new branch
git checkout -b feature/your-feature-name

# Make changes and test in browser
# No build process required!

# Commit and push
git add .
git commit -m "Description of changes"
git push origin feature/your-feature-name