In Digital painting how do you get the colors to blend perfectly without using the smudge tool?

I want to make colors blend perfectly but I do not want to use the smudge tool. I believe the smudge tool just makes things blurrry and not life like. So any suggestions on some painting steps that would be helpful to get the results I need- ThanksIn Digital painting how do you get the colors to blend perfectly without using the smudge tool?
You can


1: Use the gradient tool


2: Use transparent layers


3: Use feathering





Or a combination of all three.In Digital painting how do you get the colors to blend perfectly without using the smudge tool?
In photoshop, use the gradient tool.