Duh...applying Gradients?

[pdxrjt]

Okay, I should know this, but don't. I wish to apply a gradient along straight lines that goes from the middle of an image to partway up the image. (I am experimenting with replacing skies, so I want to slightly lighten the horizon line while leaving the rest of the sky alone.) I have selected a gradient which goes from white to invisible.....but how do I apply it? If I use flood fill, there is too much effect (I would have to exactly customize the gradient for it to work properly. as opposed to just drawing it in) I guess I am looking for something like the gradient tool in LR. Something I can draw on straight and determine the beginning and end points of the gradient. I also looked at the Photo Effect Gradient (and that may be the right way to do it???) But I can't figure it out well just using the manual. For example, it says to drag in the before pane to set the size and direction of the gradient. I do that (it shows a hand tool) but as far as I can see there is no affect. It didn't seem to matter that I had a gradient selected in the materials palette, the effect gave me the gradient it wanted me to use and I'm not real sure how to change it or apply it to just a section of the image. Do I have to use a mask or ????? Sorry to be so dense, but I was hoping for something simple like LR. TIA

[Forriner]

Hi,
When I think gradiënt I think mask layer. If you have an image with the gradiënt you want you can import it:
Select the image to receive the mask layer.
Select the layer in that image you want to import the mask above.
menu Layers/New mask layer/from image...
a dialog pops up and you pick the gradiënt image from there.
adjust anything there.

You can also create a gradiënt on the Materials palette (F6).
Under the foreground and background boxes you see three buttons. Clicking on the first gives you the choice Solid colour, Gradiënt or Pattern. Click on Gradiënt and then the colour box above it. A dialog box opens where you can select the style on the gradiënt tab. Use that to flood fill a new image to import as mask layer, or to flood (a selection in) an existing mask layer.

Edit: a mask layer is a layer so you can edit it, use the pick tool to resize/change the form, change opacity etc, etc.

I'm not an expert so I hope someone else with experience can help more.
good luck, have fun.

[pdxrjt]

Thanks for the help. I'm not sure how that helps me start the gradient in a different spot than the bottom of the image or let's me adjust it easily. I don't really have the "perfect gradient" designed in terms of where it has no effect, then the heaviest effect, becoming lighter, then no effect. Imagine the sky on the horizon about 2/3 of the way up your picture. You paste a darker, cloud filled sky in there so it replaces the grey sky. You move the sky up using the move tool so the bottom of the sky is near your horizon line. Now to help the sky look natural, you want to lighten it a bit near the horizon and have it return to the normal color a few inches above the horizon line. I can do that pretty easily in LR, but of course, LR doesn't do layers. It is probably possible to make a "perfect gradient" but if it wasn't quite right, it means have to undo it, go into your gradient and change the points where it goes from light to dark etc. There must be an easier way to do a simple gradient. Sorry for complaining. Again, appreciate your time and effort.

[Forriner]

I've been thinking in X4 because that's what I have, but I found a tutorial on the Effects/Photo effects/Graduated filter (not present in X4). Maybe this on YouTube will help if you haven't seen it already, it looks interesting anyway.

[pdxrjt]

Well, that was helpful, but I noticed that in the video the controls to move the filter around are on the "before" pane, while on mine, they are on the "after pane"....I wonder if that is true for anyone else? I can kind of get this process to work, but it is certainly not as easy as it is in other programs. Thanks for the help.

[trueblue]

Have you tried using the airbrush or paintbrush with the gradient?

[Cassel]

If you want to only put the gradient on a half part of the image, you can try flood filling a full layer, then with the Pick tool, shrink that layer to the area you want. I have done that and it works. Now , it just depends on your specific need and image.

[pdxrjt]

Both good suggestions. The airbrush applies the gradients, but again this is comparing the PSP gradient with tools in other programs, there is no way to easily alter it. For example, if I want to start the color shift a little lower, have it blend in a larger distance, etc. In PSP you have to alter the gradient itself, (which IMHO is a pain) while in other programs you can move the gradient and alter it almost on the fly. Interesting thought about resizing it....wonder if I could also move it. Will give it a try in a day or two (pretty busy the next couple of days and smoked a whole morning messing around with this on Tuesday!) Thanks for the help.