Find the approved color blend
A gradient is a gradual blend of colors or tints.
Sources for this point: Adobe gradient guide.
Use the approved original to identify where the blend begins and ends. Note the colored area, its direction and any small detail inside it. Do not rebuild the effect from memory if you already have the artwork.
A gradient can be part of your chosen logo. Keep that decision separate from whether the next job can reproduce it. Record which current file contains the intended effect.
Name the next output method
Adobe notes that some printers struggle with smooth gradients, meshes or blends. Ask your print shop about its setup.
Sources for this point: Adobe gradient printing guide.
| Output | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Screen placement | Does the actual copy retain the intended blend at its use size? |
| Full color print | Can the supplier reproduce this effect on the chosen material? |
| One ink job | Does the supplier need a separate approved flat version? |
| Cut material | Does this method need solid shapes instead of this effect? |
These are questions, not proof that a method will fail. Give the supplier your exact artwork and job details rather than describe the mark only as a gradient logo.
Ask what the proof should show
- The complete approved mark.
- The intended final size.
- The actual material or an explained substitute.
- The chosen color reference.
- A clear view of the blended area.
If the proof shows bands or a change in the effect, describe what you see. Ask whether it is in the artwork, the preview or the expected output. Do not name a cause from a screen picture alone.
Keep a close view with your notes so a revised proof can be compared with the same area.
Keep a flat alternative separate
A flat alternative uses a different color arrangement. Treat it as a proposed version, not an identical recovered source. State which regions would change and what must remain recognizable.
- Keep the approved gradient source untouched.
- Show the proposed flat version next to it.
- Compare the symbol, wording and inside details.
- Ask for the actual decision on the changed colors.
- Name the approved purpose if the new version is accepted.
Do not assume that removing the blend is harmless for every mark. If the alternative changes its identity too much, ask about a different output method or placement.
Record which version belongs to the job
| Field | What to save |
|---|---|
| Version | The exact approved or proposed filename. |
| Destination | The screen or supplier job. |
| Effect | The blend or flat treatment accepted for this use. |
| Proof | The actual view and decision. |
| Open questions | Anything still awaiting confirmation. |
Ask for another copy if the result changes a wanted detail. Finish when the recipient accepts the actual version and its expected output. Keep the gradient original even when this job uses another approved version.
Sources
These sources support the points linked above. Each date shows when we checked that source.
- Adobe gradient guide
A gradient blends colors gradually Checked . - Adobe gradient printing guide
Some printers may struggle with smooth blends Checked .