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misterhaan on Jan 24, 2008

are you saving as GIF maybe? GIF is limited to 256 colors and if it’s substituting the nearest color you’d see what you describe.

nickpixel on Jan 24, 2008

Can't address CS3 but I doubt it's something specific to the version. Is this a web graphic or a print graphic? If print, do you see the problem on screen or just after printing? Are you starting with a new image or an existing image? If existing, what "mode" is the image (go to "Image" -> "Mode" and see what the check mark indicates). Also, when you select the gradient tool, check the options. What "mode" is selected? Is "dither" checked? Is one of the colors in the gradient black? Or blue?

gswd on Jan 24, 2008

I can not say that I have had the same problem while working in CS3. I tested few different settings that came to mind, and could not seem to duplicate your experience.

When do you see the color blocking? While still working within PS? Or when you try to output the work?

jojobear99 on Jan 24, 2008

make sure your graphic is set to RGB color or CMYK color and NOT Indexed color (under the Image->Mode menu). If you are in indexed color mode it will force each color in the gradient to the "nearest color in the color index" which is not what you want). That'd be my first guess what's going wrong.

taario on Jan 25, 2008

Thanks for all the replies guys:

- I see the problem within PS itself, and (of course) after I save the file in any format.
- I've checked the settings, and it's RGB at 8 bits/channel... shouldn't that be 32?

misterhaan on Jan 25, 2008

8 bits/channel is 24-bit as there are 3 color channels. with alpha channel there's an additional channel for transparency which brings it up to 32-bit.

taario on Jan 25, 2008

Could this be a monitor issue? I'm doubting it but I can't think of anything else.

soprano on Jan 25, 2008

@taario: Do gradients appear choppy everywhere else? If not, then it can't be a monitor problem.

taario on Jan 25, 2008

I don't think so, I haven't noticed any choppy gradients except in Photoshop. I do however see this gradient choppy (zoom in):

http://www.wuphonsreach.org/Games/SimCity4/HbgPA/24x16_GradientHeighMap.png

Anyone else seeing this one choppy?

taario on Jan 25, 2008

I've done online calibration tests and there is no banding (choppy grads) on my monitor. So... I have no idea what is going on here.

Nell on Jan 25, 2008

Technique has a lot to do with it. Check out this link.

The image you posted looks like most photoshop gradients do. I don't know if it has to do with Photoshop or with it the tones you used (black/white, I've seen it with dark blues too). I think it has to compensate the grey levels with color or something.

Nell on Jan 25, 2008

Actually, it's better to use layer styles or gradient adjustment layers than to just add a gradient over a color like in the tutorial I linked. That way, you can adjust the layer style and opacity of the layer until it's just perfect.

taario on Feb 03, 2008

This is killing me, I still see banding in web sites and Photoshop, here's an example:

http://cameron.io/

Fantastic site, but the radial gradient in the background is banding for me. =(

soprano on Feb 03, 2008

Possibly your colors (display settings) are set wrong?

taario on Feb 08, 2008

I've even tried resetting the colour/image settings, with no luck. Hrmm. =/

taario on Feb 08, 2008

Problem solved! I switched the DVI cable to a regular analog one, and everything is fine now. Heh. =D

supertux on Feb 09, 2008

I had the same problem. For some reason, my computer doesn't like DVI, but I hook up a standard VGA cable and all my problems pull a disappearing act. Its a monitor/connection problem. I would have posted sooner, but your problem appeared at first to be Photoshop-specific, and therefore unlike mine.

Glad you got it fixed :)

JudoJoe on Jul 07, 2008

great site you got there.