Soft blurs and color gradients are perfect digital design elements. Add them to a static elements, and they will render the elements appearing to be floating or moving instantaneously.
A soft blur and a color gradient can be used within the same element, or on multiple different elements forming an object. A soft blur affects the sharpness and focus of an object, while a color gradient affects the colors and color transitions within the object.
Soft blurs and color gradients can also be applied to images.
From static to linear movement
A linear soft gradient from a light color or white, to a solid color, invokes light and shadow. It transforms a basic shape, such the circle, into a three-dimensional object that has a top, center, and bottom.
Illustration 1: The circle is transforming from a static sun to raising sun by adding a linear blur.
In illustration 1, a solid round sun is transformed into a raising sun by adding a linear blur from 0% yellow to 100% red. The raising sun seems to be appearing behind a horizon line.