Gradient Washes and Maps in PhotoShop
Gradients that include transparency as one of its color components allows
you to create unique designs that show off specific areas of an image that
you do not want to have affected by the gradient. Combining these gradients
will help you to create a gradient wash. To create a multicolor gradient
wash, follow these steps:
1. Choose a layer.
2. Select an area of the layer.
3. Choose Gradient from the "Create new fill or adjustment layer."
4. In the Gradient Fill, click the gradient sample to open the Gradient
Editor.
5. In the Gradient Editor, either choose an existing gradient preset that
finishes with transparency or create anew gradient that fades to
transparency and click OK.
6. Choose a Style, Angle and Scale. Click OK.
7. Create another gradient fill layer and repeat steps 4 and 5.
8. Using the layers palette, change the opacity or blending mode for or
restack the gradient fill layers.
The Gradient Map command applies gradients based on luminosity levels in the
layer below it. This command can be used to add color to grayscale images or
to re-render a color image in new tonalities. The result can be anything
from Day-Glo to subtle changes. If the gradient is applied through an
adjustment layer, you will be able to re-edit the gradient.
The left color or starting color of the gradient is applied to the shadow
areas of the layer. The ending color is applied to the highlight areas
of the layer. Any color stops that are added into the gradient are applied
to the midtone areas of the layers. The number of color transitions in the
resulting layer is based on the number of color stops in the gradient.
To apply a gradient map to a layer, do the following:
1. Choose a layer.
2. Choose Gradient map from the "Create new fill or adjustment layer."
3. Click the gradient arrowhead to open the gradient picker and choose a
preset.
4. Click the gradient thumbnail to open the gradient editor.
5. Change the starting or ending color stops. Or, add more color stops to
the middle of the gradient to add color to the midtone areas. Or, move any
of the color stops to change the distribution of colors within the layer's
tonal range.
6. Click OK.
7. Check dither to have a random noise be added to color transitions in the
layerto help prevent the color from banding or striping.
8. Check reverse to reverse the direction of the gradient colors.
9. Click OK.
To reedit a gradient map at any time, simply double-click the thumbnail in
the layers palette. To heighten the contrast in the colors produced from a
gradient map adjustment layer, create an adjustment layer > Posterize
command using four to six levels.
