The Gradient Map is a new feature in Photoshop CS with which you can use Gradients to change even Black and White images to color and give special effects to color photos.
Step 1 : I have opened this Black and White Image.
Step 2 : In the Layers pallete click on New Fill or Adjustment Layer Button. A popup will appear. click on Gradient Map.
Step 3 : As soon as you click the Gradient Map dialogue appears. Click where the arow points to, to bring up the Gradient Editor.
Step 4 : Make sure your Foreground Color is Black and Background White. If not then press 'x and then 'd' on your keyboard to reset it to the default.
Step 5 : When you click on theGradient Editor you will find the Presets in two rows at the top. At the bottom you will find the Black Color Stop on the left and White on the right. Note that Color at the bottom left is grayed out.
Step 6 : Click on the Black Stop. The Color immediately changes to Black.
Step 7 : Click directly on the Black Color in the box.
Step 8 : This brings up the Select Stop Color dialogue box.
Step 9 : Note the column of color in the middle. It is called the Spectrum. You can change the color at the left by dragging the tiny white sliders beside the Spectrum up or down. I have clicked on a shade of Blue. As soon as you click the shade will be shown in 'new' at the top. You will also find that the color is 62c3e3 at the bottom. After selecting the color click ok.
Step 10 : The left Color Stop has changed to the color picked. At left you can see how the image has changed.
Step 11 : Click on the right White Stop. The Color changes to white.
Step 12 : As soon as you click on the Color at the bottom, the Select Stop Color dialogue box opens. I have clicked on a shade of yellow. The Color at the bottom changes to the shade I clicked at the left. The 'new' at the top also changes to the same color. Click OK. Click OK in the Gradient Editor.
My photo looks like this.
Step 13 : Click where the arrow points to bring up the Blend Modes and click on Overlay or Soft Light (whichever suits your image).
This is how my image looks. It was Black and White!
Step 14 : In the Layers pallete reduce the Opacity to between 40% and 60%. I have reduced the opacity to
50 %.
And, this is what my finished Black and White Image looks like.
I have now opened this free stock color photo.
Step 1 : I have clicked on the Add or Fill layer icon in the Layers pallete. From the popup I have clicked on Gradient Map.
Step 2 : Click on the Gradient Editor.
Step 3 : Click on the left stop. Click on the 'Color' at the bottom. The Select Stop Color dialogue box comes up. Click on a shade of Red. The Color at the bottom and 'new' at the top changes to Red. Click OK in the Select Stop Color dialogue.
Step 4 : Click on the right Stop. Click 'Color' at the bottom.
I have picked a shade of Blue. Click ok in Select Stop Color.
Step 5 : Press ALT and drag the right stop. It separates into two.
Step 6 : I have put 50 % in the Location dialogue box to move the second Color stop to the middle. You can drag the slider to any position.
Step 7 : Click on Color at the bottom to bring up the Stop Color dialogue box. I have clicked on a shade of Mauve. The Color at the bottom changes to the same color at the bottom. Click Ok in the Color Stop dialogue box.
Click Ok in the Gradient Editor.
This is how my image looks.
Step 8 : Change the Blend Mode in the Layers pallete to Soft Light ot Overlay. I have changed it to Soft Light.
This is how my image looks.
Step 9 : I have lowered the Opacity t0 50 %. There is nothing hard and fast about it. It will depend on your image.
And, this is how my finished photo looks like. It's very easy. Please try it out.
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