To add gradient colors in 2018 Maya, you can use the 'Gradient Editor.' Open the 'Gradient Editor' by navigating to 'Window' > 'Gradients.' Create a new gradient and use the 'Color Editor' to set the colors for the gradient. You can then apply this gradient to a material or a shape by adding a 'Gradient Color' node to the shader network and connecting it to the appropriate color attribute.