I am in the process of learning CS4 and I am a bit puzzled by its gradients, and the Help system is no help. I see 2 ways to use a gradient - by adding a gradient map adjustment layer, and by using the gradient tool. How do these 2 differ? What would you use each for?
Thanks,
Peter
There is a third way, also an adjustment layer: Gradient fill. The gradient tool is useful in that you can make a selection of any size or shape, choose a gradient's characteristics (color, style (linear, radial, reflected, etc) and determine how and where you want it to appear. However, once it is applied, you cannot alter its parameters, but have to delete it and start again. In conjunction with a layer mask or a layer filled with middle gray and set for the Overlay blend mode, the gradient tool can easily be used to simulate, say, a graduated neutral density filter.
The gradient map adjustment layer will take whatever the foreground and background colors are and map them in an image according to the tonal levels in the image, and is an interesting way of getting a grayscale image, or changing the colors of an image, or working within a selection.
The best way to learn these is to play with them.
The Gradient Fill adjustment layer is the most flexible, as it is easy to change everything about the gradient after it is applied, so you can easily experiment with the effects. It can also be applied globally or to a selected area.
