Using the Linear Gradient Tool

While the Develop tools allow for a variety of adjustments to be made to photos, sometimes it is desirable to have these effects gradually progress across a photo. Adjust the Exposure, Saturation, Vibrance, Temperature, Tint, Fill Light, Contrast, Clarity, and Color Strength, as well as Color EQ, Tone Curves, and Sharpness in one or a series of gradients over a photo. For example, instead of applying exposure adjustments across an entire photo, use the Linear Gradient tool to have them be stronger in some areas and weaker or absent from others.

Linear Gradient Tool

The Linear Gradient button is located in the Masking Group of the Tune and Detail tabs.

To use the Linear Gradient tool:

1. In the Develop Tools pane, in the Tune or Detail tab, click the Gradient button to open the Gradient panel and enter Gradient masking mode.
2. Specify the gradient settings in the panel as described in the table below.
3. Position the guides on the photo. Inside the guide boxes, the gradient is transitioning. On either side of the boxes, the effect being applied by the Linear Gradient tool is at full strength or not applied at all. To make this clearer, enable the Show gradient mask checkbox. Move the boxes to define where the effect will begin or end. Hold down the Shift key while positioning the effect to lock to the nearest 45° angle, for straightness.
4. Adjust the sliders to get the desired effect.

To apply another mask, (up to 24 are available), press the + button at the bottom and select the masking type. The new mask box will become visible to the right of the previous mask box. Return to any mask by selecting its respective mask icon. A blue outline represents the mask currently selected. Disable or re-enable any mask by using the Disable/Enable Mask buttons.

5. Click Apply or Done.

Hold Shift while using the Linear Gradient Tool to lock it's movement to up, down, left, right, or on diagonals to create straight masks.

To disable a mask:

To disable a mask, select the mask layer you wish to hide, and click on the Disable Currently Selected Mask button to hide the mask layer.

To re-enable a mask:

To re-enable a mask, select the mask layer you wish to make visible again and click on the Enable Currently Selected Mask button to show the mask layer again.

Linear Gradient Tool Options

	Show gradient mask		When this option is enabled, the gradient mask will be displayed in the color shown. Alternatively, hold down the S key to see the mask on the image. Click the drop-down arrow to select another display color.
	Mask Preview Color		Opens the Colors dialog used to select a color for brush strokes.
	Add a new mask layer		Adds a new mask layer to the project.
	Delete the currently selected mask		Deletes the currently selected mask layer from the project.
	Copy the currently selected mask		Copies the currently selected mask layer onto the clipboard.
	Paste the currently selected mask		Pastes the mask currently saved to the clipboard.
	Duplicate the currently selected mask		Creates a duplicate mask layer using the currently selected mask.
	Invert the currently selected mask		Toggle this option to invert the brush strokes of the currently selected brush. This makes brushed areas no longer brushed and untouched areas brushed. This is useful for instances where the majority of the image is brushed and a small section untouched. Simply brush only the small area to be left unbrushed, then invert the brush strokes.
	Disable the currently selected mask		Disables the currently selected mask layer, preventing the layer from being visible.
	Enable the currently selected mask		Enables the currently selected mask layer, preventing the layer from being visible.
	Clear the currently selected mask		Clears the currently selected mask layer of any brush strokes.
	Pixel Targeting		Opens the Pixel Targeting dialog for precise color selection. (see Pixel Targeting for more information)

Using the Linear Gradient Tool on the Detail Tab

	Sharpness	Move the slider to the right to brush on sharpness, or move the slider to the left to brush on blur.
	Luminance Noise Reduction	Luminance noise is random variations of brightness, and particularly in gray areas, may appear spotted when there should be a solid color in the area of the image. Slide to the right to add Luminance Noise Reduction.
	Color Noise Reduction	Color noise is random variations of color in the image. Slide to the right to add Color Noise Reduction.