We’re taking a look at how to use gradient tool in Photoshop. You’ll discover how to use Photoshop gradients to produce breathtaking color-blending effects for your designs.
In Photoshop, the gradient tool is simple to use and locate. Use the Gradient tool from the toolbar or add a gradient fill layer for quick solutions when filling a background.
Keep reading, let’s dive into the world of PS.
Table of Contents
What is the Photoshop Gradient Tool?
The gradient tool produces a smooth, continuous color blending. Additionally, it can be used to blend transparency and color.
Depending on how you want to use the gradient tool in Photoshop, you can select from a variety of versions of this tool. You can choose to create these types of gradients:
- Linear,
- Radial,
- Angle,
- Reflected,
- Or Diamond.
Your photos can gain depth and interest by applying any of these gradients to Photoshop images. When you use the gradient tool creatively, adding colors subtly or as boldly as you’d like can look more natural.
Read More: Where is the Magic Wand Tool in Photoshop?
How Does the Tool Work?
With only a few mouse clicks, the Gradient tool is incredibly simple to use. The tool is primarily used by Photoshop users to add artistic blends to their images. Making web page backgrounds and figuring out how to fill in blank spaces or denote transitions are both made easier by this. Advanced users will make use of the tool to enhance images in specific areas that might call for more extensive editing, such as landscape pictures where the sky needs to be colored in more because it is washed out.
The tool enables the creation of various effects, including diamond and linear gradients. A diamond gradient helps give an image some sparkle while a linear gradient follows a line. There are gradients that are transparent, allowing a portion of the image to be seen through the gradient.
Where is the Gradient Tool in Photoshop?
In Photoshop, go to the Tools menu on the left side of your screen to find the gradient tool. If you haven’t customized this, it’s roughly halfway down the toolbar.
The icon could take the form of a paint bucket. When you click and hold on this icon, the gradient tool icon (as seen in the upper image’s inset) will appear.) Photoshop’s gradient tool can be opened by clicking this.
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3 Ways to Find the Gradient Tool
Note: All screenshots were taken using the Mac version of Adobe Photoshop CC 2021. Windows and other versions might have different looks.
The Gradient Tool can be accessed from the toolbar, Layers panel, or the Gradients panel can be opened from the top menu.
1. Toolbar
The Gradient Tool is typically found in the same menu as the Paint Bucket Tool if it isn’t visible in the toolbar. When you click on the Paint Bucket Tool icon, a submenu will appear where the Gradient Tool is located. You can also hit the keyboard shortcut G to activate it.
2. Layers Panel
You can create a gradient effect by adding a layer style or a gradient fill to the Layers panel.
You can also add a Gradient Overlay to your layer.
3. Open Gradients Panel
You can open the Gradients panel from the top menu Window > Gradients. Your Photoshop document will have it on the right side.
Are you prepared for the application now that you have located the gradient tool?
How to Use Gradient Tool in Photoshop?
In Photoshop, gradients can be used in a variety of ways. To manipulate images, you can add a gradient layer or fill a layer or shape with a gradient.
Start off simply by applying a gradient of colors to a background layer.
Step 1: Pick a gradient from the Gradients panel and choose the Gradient Tool from the toolbar. You have access to a variety of pre-made gradients. Additionally, you can make your own gradients by selecting the gradient box on the top toolbar.
The Gradient Editor window will show. To change the color, double click on the handle of the little square slider.
You can drag the square after clicking it to add more colors to the gradient, or you can move the slider to display various effects.
Step 2: The gradient you chose will fill the canvas when you click and drag. The gradient will move in the direction that you click and drag.
A gradient layer can be added on top to color the background if you want to leave it unaltered.
The Gradient Fill window appears when you add a Gradient Fill layer from the Layers panel; you can click on the gradient box to modify the colors. Other settings, such as gradient style, angle, etc., can also be changed.
Also Read: How to Use Lasso Tool in Photoshop?
What is the Shortcut Key for the Gradient Tool?
The gradient tool’s shortcut in Photoshop is “G.” The tool from this toolset that you previously used will be activated when the key is pressed. Pressing G will activate the Paint Bucket tool, if you used it previously. The 3D Material Drop tool is accessible by pressing G once more. The gradient tool is activated by pressing it one more time. Press the shortcut key until you reach the tool you want to use whenever a set contains more than one tool.
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When to Use Or Avoid This Tool?
If you want to design a website, using this tool to create gradients is very helpful. This is due to how simple it is to create backgrounds that blend in with the text and images, as well as transitions that direct the eye from one area to another. It works well for creating logos as well.
Despite being useful for a variety of images, the tool cannot be used to add gradients to bitmap or indexed color images. More equipment and methods would be needed to accomplish that.
Read More: How to Use Color Replacement Tool in Photoshop?
FAQs
How to Reset Gradient Tool in Photoshop?
To open a fly-out menu, click the icon in the upper right corner and select Reset Tool. Open the Gradient Picker in Tool Options to restore the gradients to their original state. Reset Gradients can be found by opening the fly-out menu.
How to Use Pen Tool in Photoshop?
Select the Pen tool using the shortcut P. Click two points to connect them with a line, and drag a point to form a curve to make a selection. To alter your lines, press Alt/Option while dragging. To make a shape out of your path, control-click it in the Paths tab on the right and select Fill Path.
How to Make a Custom Gradient in Photoshop CC?
- Make a fresh gradient set as the first step.
- Select the Create New Gradient icon.
- Modify an existing gradient.
- Decide on a gradient set in step four.
- Click New after naming the gradient.
- Exit the Gradient Editor.
Final Words on Gradient Tool
To achieve the desired effect, you can configure Photoshop’s gradient tool’s strength and flexibility. An image can undergo subtle changes or complete transformations by adding a new gradient. For texts and objects, however, a gradient overlay layer style works best.
Practicing to achieve the desired look takes time, as it does with many Photoshop editing techniques. Color and transparency experiments might initially seem perplexing.
However, you’ll get better the more gradients you make in various colors and styles. You will soon be able to recognize which photos would benefit from having one or more gradients applied to them.