How to make gradient background in android

Question

I want to create gradient background where the gradient is in the top half and there's a solid color in the bottom half, like in this image below:

I can't because the centerColor spreads out to cover the bottom and top.

How can I make a background like the first image? How can I make small centerColor that's not spread out?

This is code in XML of background button above.

<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:shape="rectangle" >
    <gradient 
        android:startColor="#6586F0"
        android:centerColor="#D6D6D6"
        android:endColor="#4B6CD6"
        android:angle="90"/>
    <corners 
        android:radius="0dp"/>


</shape>

Answer 1

Visual examples help with this kind of question.

Boilerplate

In order to create a gradient, you create an xml file in res/drawable. I am calling mine my_gradient_drawable.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <gradient
        android:type="linear"
        android:angle="0"
        android:startColor="#f6ee19"
        android:endColor="#115ede" />
</shape>

You set it to the background of some view. For example:

<View
    android:layout_width="200dp"
    android:layout_height="100dp"
    android:background="@drawable/my_gradient_drawable"/>

type="linear"

Set the angle for a linear type. It must be a multiple of 45 degrees.

<gradient
    android:type="linear"
    android:angle="0"
    android:startColor="#f6ee19"
    android:endColor="#115ede" />

type="radial"

Set the gradientRadius for a radial type. Using %p means it is a percentage of the smallest dimension of the parent.

<gradient
    android:type="radial"
    android:gradientRadius="10%p"
    android:startColor="#f6ee19"
    android:endColor="#115ede" />

type="sweep"

I don't know why anyone would use a sweep, but I am including it for completeness. I couldn't figure out how to change the angle, so I am only including one image.

<gradient
    android:type="sweep"
    android:startColor="#f6ee19"
    android:endColor="#115ede" />

center

You can also change the center of the sweep or radial types. The values are fractions of the width and height. You can also use %p notation.

android:centerX="0.2"
android:centerY="0.7"