Why can't PSP give me a black to white gradient?

[gbotes]

I seem to be having difficulty getting PSP X8 to give me a gradient from pure black to pure white. All the gradients I've tried to create, and including using the default gradient, only gives me shades of gray with no pure black and not pure white. Generally I'm finding working with gradients and the PSP color wheel extremely frustrating. What am I missing?

EDIT: For now, I've used Photoshop Elements to create this gradient, so I have a temporary solution. But I'd still like to know how to do it in PSP.

[Cassel]

If you go from pure white, to pure black with a gradient, isn't it normal to have shades of grey in between?
I am a bit puzzled to imagine how you get a black/white gradient without grey.

[MarkZ]

Here is a black-white gradient with bands of black and white at the ends to emphasize that those are the colours used.

[LeviFiction]

gbotes, are you able to export the Photoshop gradient? PSP can import Photoshp gradients. Or give us a picture of the setup in Photoshop Elements to see what you're driving at?

[gbotes]

[quote="MarkZ"]Here is a black-white gradient with bands of black and white at the ends to emphasize that those are the colours used.
On my PSP X8 I get the shades of grey but with no black or white at the ends. It's a puzzle for me. I thought maybe I'm missing something I'm supposed to do.

Here is what PSP X8 gives me:

But this is what I want:

[gbotes]

If you go from pure white, to pure black with a gradient, isn't it normal to have shades of grey in between?
I am a bit puzzled to imagine how you get a black/white gradient without grey.

You're quite right, Cassel. I guess I'm not being very concise. I'm trying to get PSP X8 to give me a gradient from black through the shades of grey to white, but it is only giving me shades of grey. I'm trying to figure out what it is that I'm not doing right. In Gimp and Photoshop Elements I get it without any problems, but PSP has me stumped.

[gbotes]

Ahem...
Thanks Cassel and MarkZ for your responses, without which I would not have been spurred to keep going at it,

I'm embarrassed to say that I have just figured it out. PSP X8 has blend modes for gradients, which I have not encountered before. Mine was set to soft light, instead of normal. This simple setting is what made the difference. Changing it to normal has produced the exact gradient I needed.

Ta-da:

At least I knew I was missing something. Now, running this gradient through posterize produces this, exactly what I need to get the Zone System tones:

[Jean-Luc]

Hi Gbotes,
you may use the "Grey chart" script.

I have created the "Grey chart" script for Jasc during the PSP 8 Beta Test, years ago.
Now, this script is embedded in each version of PSP until now.
You may modify it to suit your needs.

Best regards,
Jean-Luc

[Kathy_9]

I have created the "Grey chart" script for Jasc during the PSP 8 Beta Test, years ago.
Now, this script is embedded in each version of PSP until now.
You may modify it to suit your needs.

Best regards,
Jean-Luc

Hi Jean-Luc,

Since you created the script, you'd be an excellent person to ask for an example of how the script would be used. I remember clicking on it to see what it would do and wondered how I might use it.

Thanks,
Kathy

[Jean-Luc]

Hi Kathy,
Corel itself should give some explanation about the scripts available when you buy PSP !
Those scripts are owned by Corel. The Help file should give information about those scripts, what they do, etc.

After you have applied the Grey chart script, you will have a chart of greys on your screen.
Those shades of grey may be used to verify if your screen has a correct setting in luminosity and contrast.
If the settings of your screen are correct, you will be able to see all the shades on the extreme left and right.
If not, you need to correct the settings of your screen.
For example, if you don’t see a difference between R0 G0 B0 and R8 G8 B8, your screen is too dark or has too many contrast.

Grey chart values.png (7.79 KiB) Viewed 8612 times

[Kathy_9]

Hi Kathy,
Corel itself should give some explanation about the scripts available when you buy PSP !

I totally agree that a brief description of what the script does would be helpful.

Those shades of grey may be used to verify if your screen has a correct setting in luminosity and contrast.
If the settings of your screen are correct, you will be able to see all the shades on the extreme left and right.
If not, you need to correct the settings of your screen.
For example, if you don’t see a difference between R0 G0 B0 and R8 G8 B8, your screen is too dark or has too many contrast.

Grey chart values.png

This is the part I was missing; thank you for the clear explanation. I did run the script and saw the chart but then thought "now what"? Now I know.

[Jean-Luc]

Now, running this gradient through posterize produces this, exactly what I need to get the Zone System tones:

Hi gbotes,
how do you work with it to get the Zone System ?
Just curious...

[Jean-Luc]

This is the part I was missing; thank you for the clear explanation. I did run the script and saw the chart but then thought "now what"? Now I know.

Hi Kathy,
you may also see in PSP :
-> File
-> Color Management
-> Monitor calibration
But, to be honnest, I have not found precise explanations on how to manage the color management in PSP!

[JoeB]

you may also see in PSP :
-> File
-> Color Management
-> Monitor calibration
But, to be honnest, I have not found precise explanations on how to manage the color management in PSP!

That's why it's best to just turn it off.

[Jean-Luc]

Now, running this gradient through posterize produces this, exactly what I need to get the Zone System tones:

Hi gbotes,
could you explain how you use your shades of gray with "Zone System tones" ?

Thank you,
Jean-Luc