# Creating a RadPanel with Gradient Background

You can easily add a gradient background to a **RadPanel** control by modifying the *FillPrimitive*  which is part of the element hierarchy that builds the visual appearance of this control.

Please, follow the steps below to add a gradient background to a **RadPanel** control:

1. Create a new RadForm control and drop a **RadPanel** onto the form from the Visual Studio Toolbox:

   ![WinForms RadPanel Drag From Toolbox](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/aa4972c012c0964401d5ff445c3a8d87/panels-and-labels-panel-creating-a-radpanel-with-gradient-background001.png)

2. Select the RadPanel and execute the Edit UI Elements action from its Smart Tag:

   ![WinForms RadPanel Smart Tag](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/006126b5f269cd27750bd58b51e5ebb3/panels-and-labels-panel-creating-a-radpanel-with-gradient-background002.png)

3. A dialog form will show up. In the Tree View on the right the element hierarchy of the control is populated. Find and select the FillPrimitive node and take a look at the Property Grid on the right:

   ![WinForms RadPanel FillPrimitive](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/efae361f0abb84988b5bfb1319f25f72/panels-and-labels-panel-creating-a-radpanel-with-gradient-background003.png)

4. To set up a gradient, you should first set the *GradientStyle* of the *FillPrimitive* to *Linear*. After that you should define the count of the colors which will be blended to build the gradient. The \*FillPrimitive \* supports up to 4 colors. You can use the *BackColor, BackColor1, BackColor2, BackColor3* properties to define the colors for the gradient: The *GradientPercentage* and *GradientPercentage2* properties define the position of the stops between the colors which are blended. You can use these properties to fine tune the appearance of your gradient:

   ![WinForms RadPanel Gradient BackColor](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/5d88f2b787132a54d40e44a0fa666e67/panels-and-labels-panel-creating-a-radpanel-with-gradient-background004.png)

## See Also

* [Structure](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/panels-and-labels/panel/structure)
* [Creating a RadPanel with Rounded Corners](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/panels-and-labels/panel/customizing-appearance/creating-a-radpanel-with-rounded-corners)
* [Themes](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/panels-and-labels/panel/customizing-appearance/themes)