How to Create a Pastel Gradient Background

Final product image — What You’ll Be Creating

In the following steps, you will learn how to create a pastel gradient background in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. Cool and warm, this timeless trend will give a soothing effect to any design. All you have to do is look for the best gradient combinations.

Looking to download some pastel gradient backgrounds? Head on over to Envato Elements, where you can find a large selection of premium backgrounds, including this trendy pastel gradient background with AI and JPG files.

What You’ll Learn in This Pastel Gradient Tutorial

How to create a pastel gradient background in Illustrator
How to create a pastel gradient background in Photoshop

What You’ll Need

You will need the following image in order to create a pastel blue gradient background:

Heavy clouds from above photo

1. How to Create a Pastel Gradient Background in Illustrator

Step 1

Hit Control-N to create a new document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 1920 in the width box and 1080 in the height box, and then click that More Settings button. Select RGB for the Color Mode, set the Raster Effects to Screen (72 ppi), and then click Create Document.

Step 2

Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a shape the size of your artboard (1920 x 1080 px). You can do this manually or you can click on the artboard to open the Rectangle window. Enter the size values and then click OK.

Let’s start with the most basic method that you can use to create a pastel aesthetic background. Make sure that your rectangle is selected, open the Gradient panel (Window > Gradient), and click the gradient thumbnail to apply the default black to white linear gradient.

Double-click the left gradient color and change it to R=131 G=132 B=240, and then double-click the right gradient color and change it to R=251 G=231 B=185. Simply click on the gradient bar to add a third gradient color, set the Location to 50%, and change the color to R=244 G=145 B=220.

You can set the angle of this pastel pink gradient from the Gradient panel, or you can select the Gradient Tool (G) from your toolbar and adjust the angle of the gradient directly on the shape.

Step 3

The second type of gradient that you can use to create a pastel aesthetic wallpaper is a radial gradient. You can easily apply one using the button from the Gradient panel.

Pick the Gradient Tool (G) to adjust the size of this gradient and use that black dot handle to squeeze or stretch the gradient as you wish.

Step 4

The third type of gradient that you can use to create a pastel aesthetic background is a freeform gradient. You can easily apply one using the button from the Gradient panel.

Illustrator will add four color stops to your rectangle. Select the color stops one by one and adjust the colors as shown below.

Step 5

You can always add a new color stop with a simple click, or you can delete a selected color stop.

Using the circular area around the color stop, you can increase or decrease the spread of that color. This value can also be adjusted from the Gradient panel. Select the bottom left color stop, and increase the Spread to 100%.

Simply click and drag a color stop to change its location.

Step 6

Another way of creating a pastel gradient wallpaper is by using a mesh.

Create a rectangle that covers your entire artboard and make sure that it stays selected. Pick the Mesh Tool (U) from your toolbar and click in the center of your selection to turn your shape into a mesh. Now you can easily select these mesh points and change their colors as you wish.

Switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select the leftmost mesh points and change the color to R=107 G=245 B=202. Select the rightmost mesh points and set the color to R=253 G=225 B=186. Then select the middle mesh points and change the color to R=252 G=128 B=180.

Step 7

With your mesh and the Mesh Tool (U) still selected, add a new point as shown in the first image.

Switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the mesh points highlighted in the second image, and change the color to R=235 G=240 B=168.

Step 8

If you want to adjust the position of a mesh point or a mesh point handle, simply click and drag it using the Direct Selection Tool (A).

Pick the Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C) when you want to drag a mesh point handle independently or when you want to click a mesh point and drag new handles.

Step 9

Let’s add a subtle texture to this mesh. Select it and press Control-G to Group it.

Make sure that your group stays selected, open the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance), and add a new fill using the Add New Fill button.

Select it and set the color to black (R=0 G=0 B=0), and then lower its Opacity to 70% and change the Blending Mode to Overlay.

Step 10

With that black fill still selected, go to Effect > Sketch > Reticulation. Enter the settings shown in the following image and then click OK.