Author: Fred Pearson / Narco
Tutorial Difficulty: Intermediate
Estimated Time Required: 5-10 Minutes
What you will learn in this tutorial: In this tutorial you will learn how to use the gradient map layer adjustment in photoshop.
-Step 1- Select An Image
Select an image that you want to add a gradient map too. I chose this image, which I retrieved from Google by typing in "landscape".
-Step 2- Adding the Layer Mask
Go to "Layer >> New Adjusment Layer >> Gradient Map
This window will then pop up:
Just click OK.
-Step 3- Selecting your Colours
This window will now pop up:
The colours in this selection are the ones in you colour pallete at the moment mine were (
)Double click on the gradient bar (The bar that changes colour from green to black in the image above) and a host of colour options will become available to you. You can use the presets or you can choose colours of your own! I opted for the purple/yellow preset shown here:
A big thing to remember here is to make sure the darker colour of the two is showing the shadows and the lighter colour is showing the light spots. To resolve this (if the image looks almost negative) just click the 'reverse' check box as I have done above.
-Step 4- Changing the Opacity
Now, you don't want your whole image just being two colours, so now is the time to change the opacity so the gradient map is subtle. To do this, click the "adjusment laye"' once and then alter the opacity via the slider shown below on your layer panel.
You can also change the colours if you don't like the ones you've chosen by double clicking on the square box which looks like the gradient bar (Shown as a box with a gradient of white to black in the image above
The Finished Image
Here's what the finished image will look like in comparison. It's subtle but it's noticeable:
Gradient Mapped image
Original Image
Experiment with different colours and different opacities to create effects of your own.
Also try putting the Gradient Maps in between different layers to create different effects.
Narco