Using multiple gradients

RH
Posted By
Ron Hirsch
Sep 5, 2003
Views
2040
Replies
11
Status
Closed
I often use b/w gradients in layer masks. Often I want to use several such gradients for the same image and its layer(s)

Can multiple gradients be used in the same layer? Each time I try to do that, the previous gradient was replaced by the latest one. I could find no setting that would allow me to use multiple gradients in the same layer/layer mask. As a last resort, I ended up using muliple copies of the one layer I wanted the masks for, and used a different gradient mask on each.

Being able to use multiple gradients on the one layer would be easier.

So, is there an option to do that which has eluded me?

Ron Hirsch
Related Tags
gradient multiple

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PH
Photo Help
Sep 5, 2003
Ronald,

Change the mode in the gradient options.
JM
John Mensinger
Sep 5, 2003
I’m not sure I understand Photo Help’s answer, but if I understand your question correctly, on a layer mask, you could use selections to isolate the area to which you apply each gradient…or…to apply soft edges to different places in different directions, you could try painting with a large, soft brush…or…after applying a gradient to a layer mask, delete the layer mask and choose "Apply" when PS asks, then make another layer mask, (on the same layer), and apply a different gradient. The effects of your first mask/gradient are permanently applied, and so will not be affected.
RH
Ron Hirsch
Sep 5, 2003
Hi John,

I don’t understand PH’s reply either.

Your suggestions do seem like they would work – I’ll give them a whirl.

Ron

++++++++++++++++++++

"John Mensinger" wrote in message
I’m not sure I understand Photo Help’s answer, but if I understand your
question correctly, on a layer mask, you could use selections to isolate the area to which you apply each gradient…or…to apply soft edges to different places in different directions, you could try painting with a large, soft brush…or…after applying a gradient to a layer mask, delete the layer mask and choose "Apply" when PS asks, then make another layer mask, (on the same layer), and apply a different gradient. The effects of your first mask/gradient are permanently applied, and so will not be affected.
PH
Photo Help
Sep 5, 2003
John,

The default mode is normal.

You can change the mode of a gradient to…

Dissolve, Multiply, Screen, Overlay, etc…

Exclusion should do what Ronald wants.
RH
Ron Hirsch
Sep 5, 2003
Thanks for the additional info. That does work fine

I had done more digging, and in my Photoshop library (Photoshop 7 Bible) I discovered another way to do this.

In the UL dropdown window that displays the gradient selected, choose "background to transparent". This allows one to "stack" gradients in the layer mask also.

There appear to be a tremendous number of options and choices when using layer masks – as there are with most activities in Photoshop. Well, maybe in another 10 years I’ll have most of everything "learned", that is if Adobe doesn’t keep adding all the good new stuff with each new version. <G>

Ron Hirsch

Exclusion should do what Ronald wants.
P
Phosphor
Sep 5, 2003
"Exclusion should do what Ronald wants."

How so? I am unable to relate the Exclusion blend mode to aiding multiple gradients in any way, but I have a continuing interest in that mode because it is probably the most obtuse of the blend mode lot—what with its inversion of color channel values above 128, its brightening of lows and dakening of highs, and its lowering of contrast in general. Hard to find a use for it, but I’d appreciate being disabused of this assessment.

George
PH
Photo Help
Sep 5, 2003
Exclusion allows you to revert blacks to whites where using foreground to transparent you are stuck feathering to a transparent color.

There are many options to achieve the look you want with layer masks. For a complex mask I would create it with multiple layers. Flatten it into one layer and paste that layer into the layer mask. It gives you a little bit more flexibility while still being non destructive with your data.

Using layers, selections, blending modes, Creative use of brushes, gaussian blur and transparency settings all work for creating layer masks. There is no one perfect way to do everything. Knowing as many ways as possible and using the best one for each circumstances is what separates the amateurs from the professionals.
P
Phosphor
Sep 5, 2003
"Exclusion allows you to revert blacks to whites where using foreground to transparent you are stuck feathering to a transparent color."

PH, I’ve read and reread that two-liner six times to no avail. Help! 🙂

George
PH
Photo Help
Sep 6, 2003
George,

Just try playing around with it a little and you should see right away what you can do in that mode.

Like I said I don’t use blending modes with gradients much, but if you want to do everything in a single layer mask you need to get creative.
P
Phosphor
Sep 6, 2003
OK, PH, you are clearly in a busy mode with little time to elaborate. That’s fine. Following your hints, here’s how I would verbalize at least some of the Exclusion blends’s utility. (Grunt once if you find this acceptable, twice if unacceptable, and three times if non-commital 🙂 )

When used to create a mask in an adjustment layer, Exclusion masks the highlights and shadows together, leaving the midtones affected OR, if inverted, does just the opposite and masks the midtones while allowing the effect to occur in the shadows and highlights.

The gray amplitude of the mask is gum-drop shaped, rising from black at the extreme ends of the color tonal range only to a high of mid-gray in the midtones, but can be increased by reapplying—that is, using more than one adjustment layer in Exclusion mode. The combined effect of multiple layers can be further controlled via layer opacity.

When inverted, the gray amplitude of the mask drops from white at the ends to mid-gray in the highlights, and this can likewise be extended and controlled using multiple adjustment layers and the opacity as a throttle.

This helps understand the "Exclusion" nomenclature chosen for the blend. The mode "excludes" from the adjustment either the tonal ends or the middle tones, depending on whether it is inverted or not.

Is this at all consistent with your feeling for using Exclusion?

Thanks, George
P
Phosphor
Sep 6, 2003
Playing further, the amplitude of the mask is DECREASED rather than increased by applying Exclusion again on a second adjustment layer. But, as PH advised, adroit choices of blending combinations gets the job done. In this case a Screen blend adjustment layer on top of an Exclusion adjustment layer increases the effective mask amplitude.

George

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