| » Forum Index » Problems and solutions » Topic: What's the difference between a gradient and a gradient map? |
|
Posted on 25/06/06 1:27:40 PM |
|
michael sinclair
Off-Topic Opportunist Posts: 1871 Reply  |
What's the difference between a gradient and a gradient map?
Golden balls I can do, and trees I can do, but Gradient Maps--hey I'm just poor ex-elements boy fumbling and groping through Photoshop. mike  _________________ Just because I've read a book doesn't mean that I know what I'm talking about...sigh! |
Posted on 25/06/06 6:22:48 PM |
|
Tom
Texture Technologist Posts: 402 Reply  |
Re: What's the difference between a gradient and a gradient map?
From PS Help; The Gradient Map command maps the equivalent grayscale range of an image to the colors of a specified gradient fill.If you specify a two-color gradient fill, for example, shadows in the image are mapped to one of the end point colors of the gradient fill, highlights are mapped to the other end point color, and midtones are mapped to the gradations in between. |
Posted on 26/06/06 2:00:16 PM |
|
Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7047 Reply  |
Re: What's the difference between a gradient and a gradient map?
Or to put it another way: a black-white gradient map, created as an adjustment layer above all the other layers, will let you see your entire document as if it was greyscale. This is the only use I've found for gradient maps! |
Posted on 26/06/06 5:08:31 PM |
|
Tom
Texture Technologist Posts: 402 Reply |
Re: What's the difference between a gradient and a gradient map?
I mention gradient maps on the golden ball thread because, when you colorize you get one hue from dark to light. Using a colored gradient map on a desaturated object, allows for subtle hue differences between the shadows and highlights, which may give a slightly more realistic look. |
Posted on 26/06/06 10:05:27 PM |
|
michael sinclair
Off-Topic Opportunist Posts: 1871 Reply |
Re: What's the difference between a gradient and a gradient map?
I would like to see an example of this Tom: can you rustle-up somthin? Mike  _________________ Just because I've read a book doesn't mean that I know what I'm talking about...sigh! |
Posted on 26/06/06 10:52:13 PM |
|
Tom
Texture Technologist Posts: 402 Reply |
Re: What's the difference between a gradient and a gradient map?
Left; Colorized. Right; Four color gradient map.  |
Posted on 26/06/06 10:53:20 PM |
|
Tom
Texture Technologist Posts: 402 Reply |
Re: What's the difference between a gradient and a gradient map?
 |
Posted on 27/06/06 01:23:03 AM |
|
michael sinclair
Off-Topic Opportunist Posts: 1871 Reply |
Re: What's the difference between a gradient and a gradient map?
Interesting Tom: it appears you can have more of a sophisticated alternative to the "Colorize" method. What would happen if I opted for a straight-forward gradient fill instead of the Gradient Map, but using the same four goldy colours shown? Mike  _________________ Just because I've read a book doesn't mean that I know what I'm talking about...sigh! |
Posted on 28/06/06 01:43:24 AM |
|
Bob
Expert Expressionist Posts: 130 Reply  |
Re: What's the difference between a gradient and a gradient map?
Back in the old days, when I was using Photoshop Elements extensively, I used gradient maps to create luminosity masks which could be used in conjunction with layer masks to achieve the same thing as "Blend-If" in Photoshop. See: http://retouchpro.com/tutorials/?m=show&id=111 Also, you can use a gradient map to simulate curves, which is also quite handy in Elements (especially Elements 4) which does not have a curves capability. See:http://www.photokaboom.com/photography/learn/Photoshop_Elements/curves_gradient_map/1_curves_gradient_map.htm The ability to create luminosity masks with gradient maps can be quite useful. |