[b]Tutorial: Photoshop 7 : Gradient Background[/b]

[macarthur]

Type of Tut: Tutorial
Software: PS
Version: 7, but possibly lower
Title of Tut: Tutorial: Gradient background

This was a request from a member and it was suggested that I make a full fledged tutorial out of it.

Its all about the adjustment layers...

"Hey man, What are them things?"

I'm glad you asked.

An adjustment layer is a way to let you experiment with color and tonal adjustments to an image without permanently modifying the pixels in the image.

In other words its an adjustible adjustment layer.

Think of it like a slide transparency that goes on a picture or something.
If you color the above transparency the light passes through that layer and 'adjusts' the information of the layer below it.

Remember that there is an automatic clipping mask set up so anything you dont want just paint out with the apropriate color.

This can save you in the size area because if you are taking an image and duplicating it just to do a blending change on it that can beef up the overall size of your image. This is just one advantage.

Please keep in mind that the adjustment layer affects all the layers below it. This means that you can correct multiple layers by making a single adjustment, rather than making the adjustment to each layer separately.

We are going to use the 'fill layer' which is part of the adjustment layers.

"Ok, Ok, my brain hurts now. Will you please just get to the gradient!"

Ok, but now that you know the theory you can use it to your advantage.

"D'oh! You made me learn something!"

Ha, I win. Ok on with the gradient bit.

So, Create an adjustment layer by clicking on the circle that is half black and half white under the layers palet.

"A'right I done did that, Now what?"

Ok, ok don't pressure me,
Next Click the Gradient under the choices (The 2nd one down in PS7)

Now you will have the more or less standard gradient chooser window.

Double click on the gradient preview window and you will get the indepth gradient editor.

"Hay, I have seen this before... What settings do I choose?"

Good,
Now, Here comes the different bit,
Choose under Gradient type 'Noise"

Then, Decide what color you want or just a random smattering of colors. For the request I needed green
so under the sliders put the R and the B sliders down to the black area. (leave a bit but not enough for red and blue lines )

"OOh, Lemme guess whats comes next. Do we click Restrict colors?"

Congradulations, You are correct we do hit restrict colors.

Now Randomize untill you find something you like.

And you are done. If you only want a peticular section showing through just remember that there is an automatic clipping mask set up. Just draw in black with a hard edge brush where you dont want the lines.

Voila, was that so hard.

"No I guess not..."

So to recap.

-Create an adjustment layer by clicking on the circle that is half black and half white under the layers palet
-Click the Gradient
-Double click on the gradient preview window and you will get the indepth gradient editor.
-Choose under Gradient type 'Noise'
-Hit restrict colors and select the range you want by unselecting the colors you don't want.
-Randomize, Randomize, Randomize
-When happy, Click done and ok.
-Remember also you can play with the style's (Reflected radial circular) to get different effects



-Atachment pending

Cheers, Lemme know if this helps

[graphixkid]

Whooohoo! Awesome tut Mac!!!

[KC]

Way to go macarthur! Your tut is highlighted in the latest issue of the Tech Times. Congrats!

It's listed under Hot, Techy Forum Threads.

[macarthur]

Cool

Edit:

Hmmm... I'm getting neg rep on this for some reason... with no explanation... What have I done?

[KC]

Originally Posted by macarthur

Cool [img]images/smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Edit:

Hmmm... I'm getting neg rep on this for some reason... with no explanation... What have I done?

Less emphasis on negative rep might save you from getting it. Just a thought.

The gradient circle reminds me of a sub-woofer but with color.

[Frozentoast]

*cough
http://www.sitepointforums.com/showt...threadid=73643

[Impulse]

Mmm - Interesting effect, a little tacky... but interesting. My input:

Your writing style makes me feel like I'm reading "Making-1970s-effects-that-I'll-never-use for dumbies." Try toning down the "I'm in your head this is what you're thinking" type thing and just stick to a simple easy-to-read straightforward tutorial without all the BS inbetween. It's as if you're talking down to the reader, and no reader wants to put up with that (especially because you have this idea that we all think with extremely poor grammar - ie. a'right - them things).

Just my two cents. Good tute.

[macarthur]

Imho its better than just
-Do this
-Do that
-Do something else
-Blah blah blah
More intresting than the technical manuals.

Anyway, I shall endeavor to adapt my writing style to more of a formal form.

[macarthur]

Originally Posted by FrozenToast

*cough
http://www.sitepointforums.com/showt...threadid=73643

Whats this for?
Gradient fill layers?

Originally Posted by Impulse

Mmm - Interesting effect, a little tacky... but interesting. My input:

Your writing style makes me feel like I'm reading "Making-1970s-effects-that-I'll-never-use for dumbies." Try toning down the "I'm in your head this is what you're thinking" type thing and just stick to a simple easy-to-read straightforward tutorial without all the BS inbetween. It's as if you're talking down to the reader, and no reader wants to put up with that (especially because you have this idea that we all think with extremely poor grammar - ie. a'right - them things).

Just my two cents. Good tute.

Hey, aren't you the guy that made that cool tut on those cartoon guy's. That was a cool effect.

[Frozentoast]

its my tutorial that covered this technique a while ago =]

[Impulse]

Thanks for not taking what I said badly - I read it now and I feel like I come out a jerk... that's what I get for writing it at 3:42am.

[KC]

FYI, when writing a tutorial, please search the GM&T forum for tutorials already written on a procedure or technique. I thinks its okay to write a tut and elaborate further on a procedure or a technique as long as it's not covering something already written in the past. In this case, I don't think macarthur was out of line.

The idea is to come up with interesting, state-of-the-art, or streamlined tutorials that make the www so interesting visually. All of which you guys have done. Keep up the good work.

[macarthur]

I will keep this in mind for the future. Ty URAlly.

Some of the results of the tutorial may look the same as frozen's tut but the technique is very different.