Gradient Mask Tool

[iCe]

It's like a poor man's graduated ND filter among other things. Definitely worth it to learn how to use it. You can add a curves Mask to the Gradient tool layer and really tweak the results. And don't forget Free Transform

Here's a real quick example on a little JPG file

Before



After

[ldelacruz]

Very nice colors Michael.

[jeffkohn]

Michael I'm curious did you go "straight up" with the gradient? One advantage of using the gradient tools is that you can apply the gradient at angles. Here's the quickest way I know to darken an uneven sky while at the same time evening it out some:

1) Add a curves adjustment layer.
2) Set the blend mode of the layer to "Multiply". Often times this will be enough without even touching the curve. If you need more adjustment you can either change the curve or stack multiple copies of this adjustment layer by duplicating it.
3) Draw on the mask of the adjustment layer using the gradient tool.
4) Use the blend-if sliders in the layer properties dialog to limit the effect to only the desired tonal range (eg don't darken the part of the sky that's already dark). You can feather this by alt-clicking on the blend-if triangles to split them.

Here's an example, showing exactly what I did. Sorry it's so big but I wanted you to be able to see the adjustments and dialog settings.

[iCe]

Thanks Lonnie.

I forgot to mention "why" I thought this image needed it.

Lightness brings things closer / Darkness pushes them back
Warmth brings things closer / Coolness pushes them back

Lighten the foreground / darken the background and get the feeling of depth

The example is a brute force example. The tool can be finessed to a very high degree

The sky color is the most obvious point but there's another reason. There are a couple of things that can give the illusion of depth to an image.

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

Michael I'm curious did you go "straight up" with the gradient? One advantage of using the gradient tools is that you can apply the gradient at angles. Here's the quickest way I know to darken an uneven sky while at the same time evening it out some:

1) Add a curves adjustment layer.
2) Set the blend mode of the layer to "Multiply". Often times this will be enough without even touching the curve. If you need more adjustment you can either change the curve or stack multiple copies of this adjustment layer by duplicating it.
3) Draw on the mask of the adjustment layer using the gradient tool.
4) Use the blend-if sliders in the layer properties dialog to limit the effect to only the desired tonal range (eg don't darken the part of the sky that's already dark). You can feather this by alt-clicking on the blend-if triangles to split them.

Here's an example, showing exactly what I did. Sorry it's so big but I wanted you to be able to see the adjustments and dialog settings.

Attachment 111944

Awesome post Jeff. You put more effort into the details that really make the tool work than I did.

Yes,, I went straight up and then I used free transform to rotate the mask. I could have drawn it the way that you did (with an angle) but essentially hurried through the process.

Excellent points on everything. I also use a soft brush, set at 50% opacity initially, to paint black (on the mask) to take away the effect. If you do your brushing all in one step you can Edit>> Fade Brush Tool to fine tune the effect.

I still like my 3 and 4 stop Reverse Neutral Grad filters over Photoshop but when I've been lazy and didn't use them, the GND tool in ACR and this "trick" are really handy.

[ttusa]

Hmmmm...interesting, thanks Michael!

[ldelacruz]

Michael,
Have you printed this? JJ

Thanks for posting the technique used Jeff and Michael.

[iCe]

Nope. But now that you asked I think I will (not) That's Homer Wilson's Cabin in Big Bend btw. Homer lived there in the ??? 20's I think? 30's? Beautiful location.

[Donb10]

Here is another tutorial for a different gradient.

http://www.thedigitalphotographyconn...yer.php?ID=119