Gradient madness!

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  • March 21, 2008 at 12:12 am #68613
    Cindy Tortio
    Participant

    I don't know why I didn't try here earlier? can anyone lead me to a link or help me understand the gradient map In Photoshop? I have tried and tried to implement it and I am just plain tired of failing. Is there a good coloring technique that doen't rely on it for photoshop or must I go some more rounds?

    March 21, 2008 at 12:55 am #68614
    TC2
    Participant

    Are you talking about the regular gradient tool that you click on, or the one you access in the blending menu?

    If it's the one you click on the way it works is depending on which direction you drag the mouse determine what direction the gradient faces.

    For instance,

    If I make the gradient tool go up and down the gradient will come out horizontally.  If I do it from left to right it will come out vertically, the length at which you drag the mouse determines how big the gradient line will appear.

    Up top are the different tools you can use to change the gradient around including its colors, transparency, and shape.  I unfortunately, don't have any links to tutorials but I'm sure someone here has one.

    March 21, 2008 at 5:32 am #68615
    Jedediah
    Participant

    As I understand it, the Gradient map works like so:

    You make an image in black and white and gray, filling in shadows to your heart's content. 
    Then you make a new adjustment layer, setting it to Gradient map-
    Then you can select a gradient or make one of your own- running from a dark color at the left to a light one on the right ( you can add in other colors in between to make the gradient look juicier). 
    This gradient map layer will then alter the look of your gray scale image- the darkest parts will be the left end colors of your gradient, the lightest color will be the the right end colors of your gradient, and the various grays between will be the blended middle colors of your gradient. 

    This is hard to explain without pictures- I recommend looking at Yuni's tutorial on this- over here: http://yuni.deviantart.com/art/Coloring-technique-61468467 (just click on he next buttons at the bottom to get through it.)

    March 23, 2008 at 9:02 pm #68616
    Cindy Tortio
    Participant

    Jed ,Collector thanks for the input. I am going to make another run at this. Its odd I never even thought to use black and white in addition to the grey. This my be the piece I was missing. Ugh! I am trying to locate some night classes as well. Thanks for the help as always. Big Huggs!

    March 25, 2008 at 5:36 am #68617
    Jedediah
    Participant

    SinD-
    Alternatively, you can try a more painterly approach to coloring artwork- here: http://www.mangarevolution.com/tutorial_display.php?tutorial_id=23
    is a pretty good tutorial on this subject.
    At any rate, I wish you luck with it!

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