About Photoshop Gradient Tool

GRADIENT TOOL(G):

This tutorial deals with the Gradient Tool which is a simple tool but with a huge significance in creating web backgrounds.

This tool allows us to create backgrounds(with gradient effect) which can be used for buttons, tabs or backgrounds for web pages.

1.  First open a new document. To do this go to File menu and click on New option or simply press CTRL + N.

2.  Then a box will appear. Now set measurements of your choice and press ok.

3.  Now select Gradient Tool from Tools Panel or simply press " G " in keyboard.

Then click and hold mouse left button and drag in the document to create gradient effect.

Now practice dragging in the document to create gradient effect.

4.  There are 5 variations of Gradient tool in options bar. We will work with these variations one by one.

(A)   LINEAR GRADIENT: When we start dragging, the colors will be distributed perpendicular to the point of drag.

(B)  RADIAL GRADIENT: When we start dragging, the colors will be distributed in a concentric circles from the point of drag until the mouse release point.

(C)  ANGLE GRADIENT: This option distributes color pattern as a wrap(chocolate wrap) around the point of drag.

(D)  REFLECTED GRADIENT: This option distributes same color pattern to both sides of point of drag.

(E)  DIAMOND GRADIENT: This option distributes color pattern as a diamond. Start point of drag becomes corner and gradient will be distributed around the point of drag.

OTHER OPTIONS:

MODE: This option contains some blend modes which combines or blends the gradient color with the pixels beneath it.

OPACITY: If higher the opacity value the gradient will become less transparent. If lower the opacity value the gradient will become more transparent.

REVERSE: It reverses the colors in the sample gradient. follow the image.

DITHER: If you check this option, banding in the gradient will be reduced. If you uncheck this option banding will be appeared. But we cannot observe these banding effects particularly when we are working in the Photoshop. But we can find them when we saved the document in a GIF OR JPEG format.

TRANSPARENCY: It only works on presets or custom (own created) gradients that contain transparent effect. If this option is checked and a preset or custom gradient contains transparent effect , then the gradient with that transparent effect will be applied as it is. But when this option is unchecked, then the transparent portion will be filled with neighbouring color.

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