A system for creating and rendering a color gradient field. The system includes a computer input device, a tangible computer-accessible storage medium, a processor coupled to the storage medium and a gradient stack editor. The editor creates a gradient stack data structure that includes a gradient paths, each path having a plurality of color and or opacity control points. Each path has a relative position within the gradient field. The data structure also has a secondary path extending into the gradient field.The gradient stack editor also includes a plurality of effect tools that cause the processor to receive and store information to the gradient stack data structure and the information is indicative of gradient path attributes and color and or opacity control point attributes.A gradient stack tool causes the processor to apply a gradient definition to the data of the gradient stack and to create a graphic document usable by an effect renderer.