How do I remove the muddy when I make a 2 Color Gradient? (Adobe Illustrator CC 2019, v23.1)

Question

In the image below you'll see two gradients:

• Both were made in Illustrator (CC 2019, v23.1)
• Both use the colors #ee2d38 and #624a9e
• Both swatches are set to the same Color Mode as the Color Space
• Color space (RGB vs CMYK) is not a factor as issue occurs in both

The difference is:

• Top one goes from Red to Purple using the Gradient Tool
• Bottom one has two layers: Red to Red Gradient with Opacity 100% to 0%, Purple only layer underneath

This does not happen in Freeform Gradient, only Linear and Radial.

Clearly Illustrator can render the desired result in Freeform and the workaround. This happens with many gradients I try an make. Honestly, it's the largest reason I don't design with gradients at all. I can't find a single guide, answer, tutorial, or article anywhere that explains why this happens and how to correct it. I got the workaround for the bottom from a Color to Black workaround but never an explanation of why so I can avoid and self correct in the future.

Any ideas?

Side note: Muddy Gradients would be a great Jazz Band

Answer 1

You already know --

"Bottom one has two layers: Red to Red Gradient with Opacity 100% to 0%, Purple only layer underneath"

You can use additional fills in the Appearance Panel rather than multiple layers. That way everything remains one object.

For CMYK you would create both gradients with opacity and stack them.

In RGB merely using opacity on the top gradient is sufficient (Because there's no overprinting in RGB).

For spot colors, you should avoid opacity and merely create gradients from 0% color to 100% color (or whatever max) and then stack them.