[Photoshop] Basic Gradient Usage

[Pacman]

Using Gradients

So what is the purpose of gradients? Its to start with one color, and end with another.

So create a new document, no matter what size or background color. Select your rectangular marquee tool, and draw a rectangle, fill with white, black, whatever you want.

Then enter the blending options. Go to Gradient Overlay, and let the default settings on it.


Now go to Color Overlay and chose the color you want the set the opacity to 50%.
Now you have an idea of the result. You can compare the results between the gradient tool and the blending options.



Using Gradients with the Gradient Tool

Now I will create the same shape but I will make the Gradient manually with the Gradient Tool.


So select the gradient tool. And put these settings.


When you enter the gradient editor select the "Foreground to Transparent", that should be in second place. Don?t bother with my color, I didn?t changed it, its just my foreground color, but if you wish to know what color is then?


So now with everything set you will need to have your shape selected, in all version before CS2 it should be CTRL + LEFT CLICK in the layer to select it, in CS2 right click on canvas and chose load selection.
Now we will need to click and drag the gradient from up to down or down to up. Maybe we will have to do it a couple of times to get the right result.
As you can see we have a different result.


We had a different result because we worked with a different gradient.
To help you to do your gradient you can help yourself pressing Dow the SHIFT key.

Now how to create your own gradient?

Well select your Gradient tool, and enter the gradient Editor.
Select a gradient there and begin to customize it.


You noticed that ther is 4 little points here.



Select each of these point and change the settings you see below, that is the only way to get to now that. I could explain but the result can realy be noticed, so I think everyone who mess around with the settings will understand what it does.
Basically the points above the gradients set the opacity of the color. The Colors are in the points below the gradient. If you click one point you will see others coming. Mess around with them to know what they do.

Here is my gradient.


You can see that I have more than 4 little points here, well click in the spaces between the points and you will create others. Pretty easy uh? If you didn?t wanted to create the point you can still press CTRL + Z ? lol

When you are satisfied with it go to save, and save it. Then you can load it and use it a own, free will.


To load it go to the gradient editor and select Load. But I think it will stay there for a while.

So this covers almost everything I know about gradients and their uses. One thing that is realy good with gradients is for the little glow they produce in navigation bars or signatures. But hey, mess with them and learn new stuff, then let me know 