Add a Gradient in Photoshop

By Michael Topham

Imaging skills

17 April 2009 16:25

Graduated Neutral Density (ND) filters are really handy for when you need to reduce the brightness difference between the sky and the foreground. If you don’t own a Neutral Density graduated filter, you can create a very similar graduated effect using Photoshop’s Gradient tool.

In this video you’ll see how a graduated gradient can be applied onto a new layer and how it radically improves a muted, washed-out sky in a landscape image. The darkness of the gradient can be controlled using different percentages of grey colour in the swatches palette. Opacity and Blending modes also offer further control of the gradient and both these can be controlled inside the Layers palette.

This video is compatible for Elements and Photoshop users and is brought to you by Michael Topham, Technical Writer for Digital Photo and Photoanswers.