---
title: "Basic Gradient"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/NET_MAXON_PATTERN_NODE_GENERATOR_GRADIENT.html"
section_path: "The Node Editor > The individual Assets > Material Generator > Basic Gradient"
element_id: "NET_MAXON_PATTERN_NODE_GENERATOR_GRADIENT"
description: "This page covers the Basic Gradient node of the classic node materials in Cinema 4D. It generates color gradients like the Gradient shader — sampled at …"
---

# Basic Gradient

> **Note:** **What is it about?**
>
> This page covers the **Basic Gradient node** of the classic node materials in **Cinema 4D**. It generates color gradients like the Gradient shader — sampled at any position value for flexible ramp control.

![Image: 042215.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/042215.jpg)\
The Basic Gradient can be used like a Gradient shader but makes a wide range of new effects possible since you can use a position setting to elicit individual color values along the gradient's progression. In this example a sphere was duplicated 100 times using an Array object. Via a Render Object Node, the index number of the currently rendered object is read out and converted to a position between 0 an 1 along the Base Gradient. This makes it possible to color copies of the sphere individually.

This Node can be used to generate a simple color gradient, as you can with the Gradient shader in the standard Material System. A percentage Position value can be used to output a color sample at any location.