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Post by woodworker34 on Jul 16, 2016 7:15:14 GMT
I am two year experienced Elements 12 user now running on MAC El Capitan. Photo uses are for Camara Club purposes mainly, so lots of creativity, hopefully.
I have mastered most of the tools and even got into Layers recently but there is one area in which I cannot advance and that is the use of the gradient tool.
I can do the simple bits, like setting a colour gradient to run between the Foreground and Background colours - used very successfully in a selection of the background in male portrait.
But what I cannot find out is how to operate the gradient tool to control other effects and in particular the Lightness function. I want to grade some skies from light near the horizon to quite dark (or deeper blue for example) at the top. Just paking in a blue gradient using the Foreground/Background colours does not do it as this applies the new colours gradient across clouds as well, and who ever saw blue clouds? I have seen photo mags who seriously suggest this solution, but it is rubbish.
However, just darkening (using Lightness in Enhance) selectively leaves clouds the correct neutral grey/ white while deepening the blue components across the whole selection. But how to do this with the gradient tool for a smooth effect from horizon to top of image is the issue. Am I missing something?
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Post by Sepiana on Jul 16, 2016 8:37:33 GMT
Hi woodworker34, welcome to PSE&M!
That's a difficult question. Without having all the details about the clouds variable (amount, shape, location in the sky, etc.), I am going out on a limb here and making these suggestions.
1. Create a new blank layer.
2. Set the Foreground/Background color swatches in the Tools panel to their default (Black/White).
3. Apply a Foreground-to-Transparent gradient running from the top part of the sky to the horizon line.
4. Change the blending mode of this layer to Overlay.
5. Add a layer mask.
6. Activate the Brush tool. Select a soft brush, color = Black, reduced Opacity.
7. Paint over the clouds which were affected by the gradient. If you make a mistake, just paint with White.
NOTE:
- The key to the success of this technique is the reduction of the brush opacity. You may have to vary it accordingly.
- You may also have to drag the gradient beyond the horizon line, all the way to the bottom of the image and then hide its effect (layer mask, painting w/ black).
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ken1
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 83 
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by ken1 on Jul 16, 2016 12:55:11 GMT
woodworker 34,
I offer you an alternative technique for your consideration. There is no right or wrong, but the below works for me.
You need 2 pictures: The one that you have with the drab sky which you wish to replace, and a picture of a "good" sky - just blue sky with clouds, nothing else on it. You can take the picture of the sky yourself, or download one from another source.
Open your picture (A) (File>open), and open the replacement sky picture (B)
On the sky picture (B), go to Select>all from the menu, then Edit>copy to place it on the clipboard
Go back to your picture (A), then Edit>paste. The new sky (B) should come in on a new layer
With the move tool, use the corner handles to reduce the size of the sky (B) to cover the old sky on (A)
In the layers palette, set the blending mode of (B) to darken
Set the foreground color chip to white
Get the Gradient tool out of the toolbox, and drag a foreground to transparent, linear gradient from below up to the top of the tree line, while holding down the shift key.
With a soft white brush, at reduced opacity, gently paint the horizon a bit, as we want the horizon to be a tad lighter than the rest of the sky.
If necessary, add a few clouds
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Post by cats4jan on Jul 16, 2016 17:47:27 GMT
I've had success with the gray gradient to transparent. The trick is where to start stop the gradient. Takes a little experimenting. Realize you can start from the bottom and go up, also.
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Post by Lillias on Jul 16, 2016 18:15:04 GMT
Hi woodworker 34 If you are anything like me I always find watching a video of something can be helpful. I believe this video tutorial by Karen Brockney shows the technique as described by ken1 above. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq5IoKbCSjk |
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Post by Sepiana on Jul 16, 2016 18:44:31 GMT
But what I cannot find out is how to operate the gradient tool to control other effects and in particular the Lightness function. I want to grade some skies from light near the horizon to quite dark (or deeper blue for example) at the top. Just paking in a blue gradient using the Foreground/Background colours does not do it as this applies the new colours gradient across clouds as well, and who ever saw blue clouds? I am bringing the focus back on the main issue here -- how to use a gradient on the sky and keep the clouds intact, i.e., with their original colors (not blue).
If you apply the gradient and keep the layer blending mode set to Normal, the gradient will be solid and wipe out any clouds. In addition to the technique I suggested in my previous post -- Black-to-Transparent gradient, Overlay mode, layer mask -- there are other blending modes which can be used to preserve clouds as well as existing light variations when combined with a dark blue/light blue gradient. For example:
1. Apply a Foreground-to-Background gradient (dark blue to light blue). 2. Use the Multiply blending mode.
As Janice pointed out, the tricky part is where to start the gradient and where to stop it. The degree of the color transition is directly related to the start and end points of your gradient. This means that you might have to try more than once until you achieve the results you want.
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Post by Sepiana on Jul 16, 2016 23:07:09 GMT
Hi woodworker 34 If you are anything like me I always find watching a video of something can be helpful. I believe this video tutorial by Karen Brockney shows the technique as described by ken1 above. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq5IoKbCSjk You can also find that technique in its original context (as written by one of the Adobe Community Professionals) in this thread. The scenario was a bit different though. The OP had a gray sky and wanted to change it to blue.
forums.adobe.com/thread/1669784?start=0&tstart=0
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