How to apply a gradient map to a brush?

[dupontetchaussee]

Hi, I was reading a tutorial on Photoshop about using a gradient map on a brush (the case in point was of drawing fire, with four colours, black, red yallow and white, making up the gradient map) such that you'd paint just once to get all four colours from each brush stroke. Here is an example. I was wondering how to do that in PSP X3 Ultimate. I am not new to PSP but I never used the more complicated brush features. Scripting doesn't scare me too much, if it comes to that, but I'd prefer a manual approach.
thanks for any ideas and have a great day everyone!

[LeviFiction]

Sadly PSP does not have a gradient map feature. But you might be able to slightly fake it through the use of a Color Balance adjustment layer.

Now I am just pulling at straws here, it may not give you the result you want at all.

Since a gradient map is simply that, it maps the gradient colors to the various luminance levels from 0->255 it's essentially coloring the highlights, midtones, and shadows. Just with the option for a lot more colors. Color Balance will allow you to set the color balance for the highlights, midtones, and shadows as well but only with three colors.

First group the black layer with the color Balance layer so that it acts loosely like a clipping mask. Then with your brush, using any brush variance that you want or just a lowered opacity, start drawing the flame areas. Then set the highlights and shadows and midtones in the adjustment layer to the three combinations you want, probably variations of yellow and orange.

The end result should be something partially resembling a flame. Set the group's blend mode to screen to remove the black.

I did something similar for this image

Image2.png (188.32 KiB) Viewed 2360 times

And in this swirly one

http://levifiction.deviantart.com/galle ... 6#/d1spil2

[dupontetchaussee]

Oh nice! As you say it's not exactly the same but probably good enough for my uses, thank you!!!