5 Beautiful Effects You Can Add to Your Image with Gradients

Gradients in Photoshop are versatile tools with applications in everything from color grading through to special effects. In this video, see how to use gradients in five different ways.

Adobe Photoshop is a tool which has many functions and modules, but even the simplest of them has untold depths and myriad applications. In PHLEARN's latest episode, Aaron Nace goes through five effects you can create using just the Gradient tool.

Though I have always primarily used the gradient tool for design in Illustrator, a lot of the applications Nace offers in this video are powerful and I've put to use in the past. Many of the techniques are various ways of adding mood to an image, either through fog or sun effects. For example, the sun flare gradient can be superb for creating that summery vibe. What I have found to be particularly useful is to then create a selection of the subject or subjects being affected by the sun flare, and partially mask them out of the gradient layer with low opacity. Then can retain the bright, sunset feel to the image, but without removing all the contrast from the subject.

Do you have any creative uses for the gradient tool that you've found useful? Share your tips in the comment section below.

Rob Baggs's picture

Robert K Baggs is a professional portrait and commercial photographer, educator, and consultant from England. Robert has a First-Class degree in Philosophy and a Master's by Research. In 2015 Robert's work on plagiarism in photography was published as part of several universities' photography degree syllabuses.

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Blueberries?? LMAO.