How to Use the Gradient Tool in Photoshop

👁 3 views

Gradient is a fill tool that blends multiple colors together and applies them to part or all of an image. This post shows how to apply a Gradient fill in Photoshop, with accompanying images to make it easier to understand.

Step 1:

Create a selection where you want to apply the fill. If you don’t make a selection, the Gradient effect will apply to your entire image/layer. You can make the selection with the built-in tools that have predefined shapes such as square or circle, or create any shape you like. If you just want to experiment, a small square selection is enough

Step 2:

Select the Gradient tool in Photoshop (as shown). If you don’t see it, press and hold the Paint Bucket tool icon to reveal the Gradient icon. Once you click to select it, you’ll see the Gradient toolbar appear at the top of the Photoshop window.

Step 3:

Choose the colors you want to apply using the palette of small squares on the right-hand side. Picking colors works the same way as when you use the Brush or Pencil. Look at the 2 overlapping color swatches in the bottom-left corner: the top swatch is the color for the start point, the bottom swatch is the color at the end point, and how these 2 colors blend together depends on the mode you choose.

Step 4:

Choose the type of effect you want. As introduced in the previous post, there are Linear, Radial, Angular, Reflected, and Diamond. The Gradient bar at the top left shows samples so you can picture each one.

Step 5:

Click and hold to drag. The start point is where the color is strongest, and it doesn’t have to be right at a corner or edge of the image. Release the mouse at the point where you want it to end. The shorter the distance between the start and end points, the more abrupt and unnatural the color transition.

As you can see, using the Gradient tool in Photoshop is extremely simple. Good luck, and I hope you discover many interesting uses for this tool.