An absorbent article has received a patent. The article has an upper surface, a lower surface and a periphery. A topsheet has a bottom surface and a viewing surface positioned opposite the bottom surface. The viewing surface faces upward toward the upper surface of the absorbent article. A backsheet has a garment-facing surface and a user-facing surface positioned opposite the garment-facing surface. The backsheet is joined to the topsheet and an absorbent core has a top surface and a bottom surface positioned opposite the top surface. The absorbent core is positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet and has a printed colored portion. The colored portion is viewable from the viewing surface of the topsheet and has a first shade and a second shade. The first shade is positioned substantially within the second shade. The second shade is different from the first shade. The shades operate to create a perception of depth within the absorbent article by a user looking upon the viewing surface of the topsheet.