7 Gradient Tools
Used for adding,
and editing gradient color blends
Found at #22 in the Toolbar diagram at left
The gradient tool is grouped with the paint bucket in the toolbar; if
it is hidden, click on the paint bucket and choose it from the pop-up
menu.
The linear gradient is applied by dragging over the entire length of the area you are applying it to. The other four gradients are applied to the radius of the area, since the gradient will expand outward in all directions from the start point.
The Linear gradient adds shades from where you first click to
where you release the mouse button after dragging across the image.
The radial gradient, icon shown second from the left, above, applies
shades in a circular pattern, radiating outward from the point where you
first click. The line you drag is the radius of the circle of colors.
The colors applied by the angle gradient, icon shown center above,
look like a cone, or Chinese hat, with the point at the top being the
spot where you first click. Shades are applied in a counterclockwise spiral.
The reflected gradient, icon second from the right, looks like
the linear gradient but with a mirror image gradient radiating in the
opposite direction from the linear one where you have dragged with the
pointer.
A diamond gradient looks like a starburst, or lens flare with
distinct, shaded flare lines radiating from the point where you first
click.
The gradient you have chosen, or created in the gradient edit dialog box [see second section below] is applied from the color shown on the left side of the gradient bar on the options palette, to the right. If you wish it applied in the other direction, check the Reverse box in the palette.
All gradients will cover the entire layer with their colors. The area you drag over will show the gradient variations and the rest will have the end color without gradient. If you want the gradient applied only to a particular area, select it first, and apply the gradient within the selection by dragging across it.
All gradients are applied with a transparency mask. You can turn it off by deselecting Transparency in the options palette, or edit it in the gradient editor [see second section below].
If you have problems with banding in your gradients (colors separating into stripes of different shades instead of making a smooth transition), try applying a small amount of noise with the Add Noise filter. Choose Filter > Noise > Add Noise.
If you choose Edit > Fade immediately after using this tool, you can change the opacity and blend mode of the strokes you have just applied.
Note that my tutorial, Make a Frame, includes extensive instruction on creating custom gradients.
The first illustration below, is the gradient tool’s options bar (split in two because it’s so long). To find any tool presets that have been made for this tool, click on the tool’s thumbnail at the left end of the options bar. To reset the tool to its default settings, right-click on the tool’s thumbnail and choose Reset Tool from the menu that appears.
The Mode text box showing Normal is a drop down menu of all the blend modes available for the gradient. You can get this menu to open next to your cursor by Shift-right-clicking on your document.
The Opacity setting will determine the transparency of the entire gradient. Type a value into the box, or press the arrow to the right of the box, and use the slider that appears. Note that this is not the same as the transparency mask that is part of the gradient itself. This setting affects opacity for all of the color applied with the gradient tool. The gradient’s transparency mask gives a opacity transition across the length of the gradient colors, and can be edited via the Edit button. The mask can be turned off by deselecting the Transparency check box.
Choose Reverse if you want the gradient color sequence shown
to be applied from right to left instead of the default left to right.
Choose Dither to make a smoother transition between the colors
in the gradient. This helps prevent banding.
Clicking on the little arrow to the right of the gradient thumbnail at the left end of the options bar will open the gradient pop-up palette showing the default gradients from which you may choose, see the open palette shown below. You can get this pop-up palette to open next to your cursor by right-clicking on your picture. Click on a thumbnail to choose a gradient. Press Enter or click your document’s title bar to close the palette after choosing a gradient. Clicking on the arrow in the upper right corner of the pop-up palette will open the menu shown on the right which includes other gradient palettes which are available.
Gradients may be created, or edited by clicking on the thumbnail which is showing in the options bar (not one that is in the pop-up palette).
In the illustration shown first below, the gradient transparency is being edited. Notice that the Color settings at the bottom of the menu are grayed out. You can choose to edit an existing gradient from the menu at the top, or create your own gradient from scratch by clicking the New button, and choosing a name.
Transparency stops are upside down, along the top of the gradient bar. Color stops are right side up (if you think of them as little houses) underneath the gradient bar.
You can add as many intermediate stops as you wish to the gradient by clicking next to the gradient bar. Stops can be dragged to relocate them. The little hollow dots which appear on either side of a selected stop determine the midpoint of the shading between two stops. They too can be dragged. Experiment with dragging stops and midpoints.
In the first example, the transparency stop second from the right above the bar is currently selected. A selected stop will have a black ‘roof.’ This stop’s location in the gradient is shown in the Location box.
In the second example, which shows just the bottom of the dialog box, a color stop is selected. It’s the middle, lime green one, below the gradient bar. Note that the Color options at the bottom of the box are now active, and the transparency settings are grayed out.
The third example shows a noise gradient being edited. This can be chosen from the Gradient type menu, and I have no idea what it is. Looked interesting, though.
When you have edited the gradient to your satisfaction, click OK, to return to your image. The newly created or edited gradient will now appear in the gradient tool’s options palette.
Custom gradients that you have created can be saved by clicking the Save button. Append previously saved gradients to the menu list by clicking Load.
As with all presets, loading a new palette set using the Replace option instead of Append will lose any custom presets that you have made while the current palette was loaded. Also, deleting your preferences will lose any custom presets that have not been saved to a custom set. If you build custom presets, be sure and save them to a custom set by using the Preset Manager. In the Preset Manager, choose click and Shift-click to select all of the presets that you wish to include in your custom set. Then click the Save Set button and give the set a descriptive name. After closing and reopening Photoshop, the set will appear in the palette menu. It’s a good idea to save a copy of your custom sets outside the Photoshop application folder. That way, you won’t lose them if you have to reinstall Photoshop.
Photoshop Tips | 7
Palettes | Effects
PS Elements Tips |
Shadows and Light
Elementary School | Advanced Elements
Animal Rights | The Belief Game
Unreal Nature |
jay@arraich.com