Using Photoshop Gradient Tool

The Gradient tool can use to creates a gradually blended color between one or more colors. You can choose from the list of gradient fills preset or create the whole new gradient fill preset yourself. To fill part of the image, select the desired area. Otherwise, the gradient fill will applied to the entire active layer.

You can fill an area with a gradient by dragging in the image. The starting point (where the mouse is pressed) and ending point (where the mouse is released) affect the gradient appearance, depending on the Gradient tool used. To constrain the line angle to a multiple of 45°, hold down Shift as you drag.

Note: The Gradient tool cannot be used with images in Bitmap, indexed-color, or 16-bit-per-channel mode

Gradient Fill Option

A. Gradient Preset: Click the triangle next to the gradient sample to pick a preset gradient fill. or Click inside the gradient sample to view the Gradient Editor. Select a preset gradient fill, or create a new gradient fill. Then click OK.

B. Gradient Type:

• Linear gradient: To shade from the starting point to the ending point in a straight line.
• Radial gradient: To shade from the starting point to the ending point in a circular pattern.
• Angle gradient: To shade in a counterclockwise sweep around the starting point.
• Reflected gradient: To shade using symmetric linear gradients on either side of the starting point.
• Diamond gradient: To shade from the starting point outward in a diamond pattern. The ending point defines

The example below show different type of gradient use foreground (red)to background(green). The gradient start from center to upper center edge
of image.

C. Blend Mode and Opacity: You can select Blending mode (how fill color effected with current color) and Opacity (the maximum amount of fill applied) for gradient tool to fill. See Photoshop Blending Mode for more Detail.

D: Reverse: To reverse the order of colors in the gradient fill.

E. Dither: To create a smoother blend with less banding.

F: Transparency: To use a transparency mask for the gradient fill.

Using Gradient Editor

The Gradient Editor dialog box lets you define a new gradient by modifying a copy of an existing gradient. You can also add intermediate colors to a gradient, creating a blend between more than two colors.

A. Gradient Preset: Collection of gradient preset that currently loaded in Photoshop. You can simply select its thumbnail to modify duplicate or delete. If you need to modify the default gradient preset, I recommend to duplicate and name it before any modification.

• To duplicate gradient preset: Select gradient preset you want to duplicate. In the Name text box, name it if you want and click new button. The current select gradient preset will duplicate and you can start modification.
• To delete gradient preset: Select gradient you want to delete and right click or Ctrl+Click ( for MacOS). Select Delete Gradient form pop-up menu.
• To rename gradient preset: Select gradient you want to delete and right click or Ctrl+Click ( for MacOS). Select Rename Gradient form pop-up menu.

B. Palette menu: Allow you to load another set of preset and set the option of preset to be shown.

C. Gradient Type: To create smooth gradient set this option to Solid or select Noise to create noise gradient fill (See Noise gradient fill for more information).

D. Smoothness: Define how smooth in gradation of color for entire gradient, higher value will create smoother gradient.

E. Opacity stop: To define opacity of color for each point in the gradient from 0 (totally transparent) to 100 (solid color).

• To Set Stop Opacity: Click to select the Opacity Stop Locator you want to set, the triangle below the locator turns black , indicating that the locator is being edited. You can edit the current select stop by enter opacity value at Stops Section (H).
• To Set Stop Location: Click and Drag desire stop at gradient bar. Or click to select desire stop and enter numeric location in % (0% location is left most and 100% location is right most) in Stops Section (H).
• To Add Opacity Stop: Click above the gradient bar to define another opacity stop.
• To Remove Opacity Stop: Drag the opacity stop off the gradient bar, or select the opacity stop and click the Delete button.

Note: The color in the rectangle in each stop also show opacity value for each locator from Black (100%) to White (0% or totally transparent) or 50% Gray (50% transparent).

F. Color stops: To define the starting color and end color of the gradient, click the left color stop under the gradient bar. The triangle above the stop turns black , indicating that the starting color is being edited.

• To Choose Color: Click to select the Color Stop Locator you want to set, the triangle above the locator turns black , indicating that the color is being edited. You can edit the current select color stop by do one of following:
  • Double-click the color stop
  • Click the color swatch in the Stops section (H) to choose a color.
  • Choose an option from the Color pop-up menu in the Stops section (H) of the dialog box.
  • Position the pointer over the gradient bar (the pointer turns into the eyedropper ), and click to sample a color, or click anywhere in the image to sample a color from the image.
• To Set Stop Location: Click and Drag desire stop at gradient bar. Or click to select desire stop and enter numeric location in % (0% location is left most and 100% location is right most) at Stops Section (H).
• To Add Opacity Stop: Click below the gradient bar to define another color stop.
• To Remove Opacity Stop: Drag the desire color stop off the gradient bar, or select the color stop and click the Delete button.

Note: The color in rectangle in each stop also show color that currently select, for example when Red color is selected.

G. Midpoint: To adjust the location of the midpoint where the gradient displays an even mix of the starting and ending opacity or color.

• To adjust Opacity midpoint: drag the diamond above the gradient bar to the left or right, or click the diamond and enter a value for Location at Opacity row in Stops Section (H).
• To adjust Color midpoint: drag the diamond below the gradient bar to the left or right, or click the diamond and enter a value for Location at Color row in Stops Section (H).

H. Stops Section: You can define Opacity stop (E), Color stop (F) or Midpoint (G) value that currently select in this section. If Opacity Stop or Opacity Midpoint is select the Color row will inactive and in contrast if Color Stop or Color Midpoint is select the Opacity row will inactive.

Noise gradient fills

A noise gradient is a gradient that contains randomly distributed colors within the range of colors that you specify. You can create noise gradient by select Noise at Gradient type in Gradient Editor dialog box. The smoothness of noise gradient is control by Roughness value in %. The picture below show the gradient with different Noise value.

Noise gradient Option:

A. Roughness: To set the roughness for the entire gradient, enter a value in the Roughness text box, or drag the Roughness pop-up slider.

B: Color Model: To define the color model, choose a color model from the Color Model list (RGB, HSB or LAB).

C: Color Slider: To adjust the range of colors, drag the sliders. For each color component of the color model you’ve selected, you can drag the sliders to define the range of acceptable values. For example, if you choose the HSB model, you can restrict the gradient to blue-green hues, high saturation, and medium brightness.

D: Restrict Colors: Check if you want to exclude color that out of color gamut for printing.

E: Add Transparency: Check if you want to include random transparency to noise gradient.

F: Randomize: To randomize a gradient that conforms to the settings, click the Randomize button until you find a setting you like.

Note: You can also see the cool tutorial that use noise gradient tool to create vibrant background at Graphics.com

Related Article:

• Using Photoshop Tool Preset
• Photoshop CS3 Toolbox: Quick Reference
• Photoshop Painting Tool
• Photoshop Marquee Tool
• Photoshop Lasso Tool
• Photoshop Magic-Wand Tool
• Photoshop Move Tool

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