25 March 2019

How to Create a Custom Gradient Using Photoshop CC


create-gradient-photoshop

Photoshop CC is a great tool for creating gradients. By simply blending two colors together, you can add some visual “pop” to your images. Photoshop has some built-in options for this, but what if you want to create a gradient from scratch?

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to create a custom gradient using Photoshop CC in four simple steps.

Step 1: Set Up Your Canvas

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Opening Screen

First, open Photoshop CC. For this tutorial you don’t need a custom template, so we can go with Photoshop’s default canvas size.

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Gradient Tool

Once you’ve opened your canvas, make sure your Gradient tool is active, seen here highlighted in red. After it’s active, pick two colors you want in your gradient, using your color swatches at the bottom of the toolbar. For this tutorial we’re going to go with a bright blue and purple, to create a “neon” look.

Step 2: Using the Gradient Editor

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Editing a Gradient

To customize your gradient, go to the top left-hand corner of your workspace and double-click on the color bar to access your Gradient Editor. The Gradient Editor is a powerful, simple tool and a one-stop shop for all your customization needs.

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Gradient Editor

At the top of the editor you’ll see a row of Presets that come with Photoshop CC. Along the right side of the editor are options to LoadSave, and create New gradients. At the bottom of the editor are the tools to customize your gradient.

There are two different styles of gradients you can create. The first one we’re going to design is called a Solid gradient. You can see this option in the dropdown menu where it says Gradient Type: Solid in the middle of the editor. Make sure this option is selected before you begin.

Step 3: Create a Solid Gradient

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Color Stop

Photoshop’s default gradient transitions between two colors, but what if you want to transition between three? To do this, click on one of the Color Stops located on the left and right ends of the color slider. For this tutorial we’re going to adjust the left Color Stop by dragging it towards the center of the bar. Where it sits is the spot that my third color will blend into the others.

To pick a third color, double-click on the Color Stop. It will open up your Color Picker and allow you to pick a hue of your choice. Once selected, click OK. Photoshop will add the third color to your slider.

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Midpoint

These colors are looking good, but what if you want to adjust where they blend on the page, instead of an even three-way split? To do this, click and drag your Color Midpoint across the slider, to change your ratios.

You can also adjust the Smoothness of how you blend these colors together. For this tutorial I’m going to keep the smoothness to 100 percent, but if you want a “choppier” look pull that slider to a smaller percentage.

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Adjusting Smoothness

Next, click OK to exit the Gradient Editor. Then go to your gradient style buttons, found in the top left-hand corner of your workspace next to your color bar. There are five different styles you can use, but they all work in the same way.

To apply them to your image, click on the gradient type of your choice, then click and drag across your page. When you release, Photoshop will apply the gradient in the direction you’ve indicated. We’ve talked about this technique before in our look at how to create a podcast cover using Photoshop.

Try Out the Different Types of Gradient

The first type of gradient we’re going to try is the Linear Gradient, which looks pretty standard.

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Linear Gradient

You can also try a Radial Gradient, which looks like the glow from a spotlight. I personally use this type of a gradient to create the “glow” that you see around a star in space.

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Radial Gradient

If you want a hard edge of light, the Angle Gradient is a really good option.

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Angle Gradient

Reflective Gradients are good for liquid surfaces and sunsets.

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Reflected Gradient

Diamond Gradients are kind of funky, but they can be used as a spotlight glare or the reflective edge on a gemstone.

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Diamond Gradient

This is all you have to do to create a customized, solid gradient in Photoshop. It’s both incredibly simple and easy to remember. Before we wrap up this tutorial, however, there’s one more gradient you can create. It’s called a Noise gradient and we’re going to briefly touch on it.

Step 4: Create a Noise Gradient

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Noise

To create a Noise gradient, double-click on your color bar to access your Gradient Editor. Next to Gradient Type, click the dropdown menu to select Noise. You’ll immediately see a new color slider show up on the bottom of your editor, along with two sections to adjust Roughness and Color Model.

Beneath Color Model are three sliders for the individual color channels. By sliding the markers along each channel, you can adjust how many colors show up in your gradient, what shade they are, and the brightness.

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Adjusting Noise

You can also adjust the contrast between these colors by using Roughness. A high percentage of roughness means that the gradient will have very distinct lines of color. A low percentage means that the colors will be blended.

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Adjusting Roughness

Once these specs are calibrated, click OK to exit the Gradient Editor. Choose your gradient style in the left-hand corner of your workspace, then click and drag your gradient tool across your canvas to check out the different results.

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Rough Radial Gradient

You’ll immediately notice that noise gradients look very different from solid ones. The Radial Gradient is a good example of this.

How to Save Your Gradient as a Preset

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop New Swatch

Let’s say you really like the gradient you created and you want to use it again on another image. To do this, go to Gradient Editor > New. This will add a new swatch to the gradient you created in the Presets window.

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Save Swatch

After you create your swatch, click Save. Give your new gradient a meaningful name, then click on Save again.

Now that your preset is saved, how do you access it for other projects? Make sure your Gradient tool is active, then click on the color bar to access the Presets window. After that, click on the “gear” icon, seen here in red.

Creating Custom Gradient in Photoshop Load Gradient

Next, click Load Gradients. This will bring up your list of gradients, where you can select your custom swatch. Once selected, click OK.

Customize Your Tools in Photoshop CC

Now that you know how to create a custom gradient in Photoshop, you’re ready to get started. But gradients aren’t the only tool you can customize using this program. Thankfully, we have previously explained how to create a custom brush in Photoshop CC.

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