Gradient Banding Test with Grayscale and RGB Ramps
Observe gray, red, green and blue gradients in continuous or sixteen-step modes.
Free to use. Runs in your browser. No signup.This is a smaller preview. Open the screen to fill your display and hide the page controls.
Inspect smooth and stepped ramps
Compare grayscale and RGB ramps. Continuous mode shows a smooth transition; 16-step mode deliberately displays separate bands.
Press Escape to exit. Move the pointer or tap the screen to bring back the Exit button.
This checks the browser's displayed gradient, not the panel's bit depth or calibration. Browser rendering, color settings and the display all affect the appearance.
Compare continuous tones with a sixteen-step reference
Compare how the current browser and display render a tonal ramp. Choose grayscale or an individual RGB channel, horizontal or vertical direction, and continuous or sixteen-step mode. Fullscreen reduces surrounding distractions while you inspect transitions. Visible bands may involve the source, browser, color management, GPU output or display processing; this tool cannot isolate those causes or certify native panel bit depth. It does not calculate physical color accuracy.
Ways to use the gradient test
Observe smoothness in grayscale and individual color ramps.
Compare horizontal and vertical transition patterns.
Contrast an intentional sixteen-step pattern with a continuous ramp.
How to compare continuous and stepped gradients
Intentional steps provide a reference for recognizing transitions; they do not measure the display hardware.
Start with a grayscale ramp
Choose Gray, Continuous and Horizontal, then inspect the full transition. Keep browser zoom and display settings stable during the comparison. A dark or bright end can be affected by clipping elsewhere in the rendering chain.
Compare with the sixteen-step reference
Switch to the stepped mode to see deliberately separated levels. Return to continuous mode and inspect whether transitions look different. Repeat vertically if the observation appears related to position on the display.
Check individual color channels
Compare the red, green and blue ramps under the same conditions. Differences are observations rather than a calibrated Delta E result. Use the image gradient generator when your goal is a saved design background instead of display inspection.
Continue with a focused check or a guided sequence: Monitor Test
Gradient Test: questions & answers
Everything you need before your next download.
Does visible banding prove my monitor is defective?
No. Browser rendering, the graphics pipeline, display settings and the panel can all affect transitions. Compare conditions before attributing an observation to one component.
Can this identify an 8-bit or 10-bit panel?
No. The test shows browser-rendered ramps and an intentional sixteen-step reference. It cannot certify the panel bit depth, HDR capability or physical color accuracy.