How to add a simple gradient in Photoshop suitable for darkening skies or foreground.

[colinb]

I am using CS3 but this should be very similar in other versions of Photoshop.

Open picture, making sure you are able to view the layers tab at the right of your screen (white arrow picture A) and that black is selected as the forground color on the tool bar (left of photo)

Click on the ‘create new or adjustment layer’ button looks like half moon (blue arrow)

you will notice the gradient is black but do not worry about that for now, if you are using the grad to darken the sky you may need to check the 'reverse' box (arrow pic 2) to ensure the top half of your photo has the black tint.

you now need to change the mask layer from Normal to Overlay. Click on the tab at the side of 'normal' (white arrow) and select 'overlay' (blue arrow) from the drop down menu.

Your sky should now look a little more 'punchy' but it may look too much so we need to adjust the opacity by using the slider

now all you need to do is flatten the layers and 'save as'

If you wish rather than using black you can use other colours (for example blue) and it is worth experimenting. You just need to change the foreground colour on the tool bar (red arrow picture 1)

I hope this helps, there are other ways of creating a gradient but I thought we would start with what I think is the easiest and simplest. I can't promise it is suitable for all cases but give it a go and why not post up some before/after examples below.

[annie]

nice one colin....thank you for this.

[Phil]

Thank you Colin. I'm pleased to see other members getting involved with posting tutorials.