Color gradient - Problem with color banding
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:: E-mail to friend What I want to do:
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I want to produce color gradients in photoshop, linear as well as
circular gradients (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_gradient).
I know 3 ways to do that:
Way 1:
Make a new layer and use the "Gradient Tool (G)" from the tool icon bar
in a manual fashion
Way 2:
Create a gradient via "Adjustment layer > Gradient"
Way 3:
Create a new white layer, then create a gradient via "Blending Options >
Gradient Overlay"
My Problems:
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Way 1:
- it is a manual way, but I need a method which allows me to
standardize, e.g. by telling someone the angle in degree. I need a
method which allows me to make precise descriptions in how to make a
gradient, so that i can reproduce 100% identical gradients at any time
by any person
- it does not allow the recipient of my files to alter the gradient
afterwords
- Big filesize compared to 2&3
Way 2 & 3:
Those methods eliminate the problems of Way 1, but have one major issue:
I get color banding problems in my gradients
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colour_banding).
I don't see any way to eliminate the color bandings in way 3.
As for way 2 there is the option "Dithering". If I activate this
setting, I get rid of color banding in my linear gradients. As for my
circular gradients, the problem remains.
Questions:
########################
-How can I get rid of color banding for good, for my linear AND for my
circular gradients?
- Why do I have color banding with methods 2 & 3 but not with method 1?
- Do I really eliminate color banding by selecting "dithering", or is it
only an effect which I see on screen? How about printing my gradients
with high-quality offset printing?
- What do I do wrong, how should I do it better?
- Between method 2 and 3 there is a difference in how the layer appears
in the "Layers" Menu. Method 2 produces a "Gradient Fill" layer, while
method 3 produces an "Fx" Layer with effects. What is the difference for
the people that I hand out my files for further processing?
- Are there any other ways to make gradients, which might be more
"professional" than the way I do them?
Thank you for any piece of information, hint or idea!
Tom
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