Gradient Tools

Tools are effective for making a variety of global adjustments, but are not ideal for gradually adjusting specific areas of a photo. For example, instead of blurring an entire photo, it may be more desirable to have a blur advance across the image, or advance over a section of the image.

 

Use Gradient Tools to gradually progress an effect across an image. Gemstone features two Gradient Tools:

  • Linear Gradient Tool
  • Radial Gradient Tool

Both Gradient Tools reside in the Filter dialog's Edit Brush drop-down menu.

To use a Gradient Tool:

  1. Make a selection from the Filter main menu drop-down list.
  2. Right-click the Edit Brush icon to produce the Brush Type drop-down.
  3. Click either the Linear Gradient Tool icon or the Radial Gradient Tool icon to change the Filter dialog's properties and place the Gradient Tool on the image.
  4. Click and drag the Gradient Tool guides to adjust the gradient. Inside the guide boxes, the gradient is transitioning. On either side of the boxes, the effect being applied by the 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.
  5. For the Radial Gradient Tool, adjust the Feathering slider to fine-tune the gradient transition.
  6. Click the OK button.

Gradient Tool Options

Feathering

 

For the Radial Gradient Tool, adjust the Feathering slider to fine-tune the gradient transition.

Squareness

 

For the Radial Gradient Tool, increase the slider to gradually transform the default oval shape of the radial to a square.

Show gradient mask

 

When this option is checked, a 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.

Invert gradient

Toggle this option to invert the gradient. By clicking the Invert button after applying a gradient beginning at the top of the image, the gradient would begin at the bottom, and vice-verse.

Alternating between the Gradient tool and cursor-applied tools

 

For filters that involve drawing or clicking on the image, such as the Light EQ™ filter and the White Balance filter, hold down the Alt key to switch from Gradient mode to using the tool.

 

To exit the either Gradient Tool, click the Cancel button.

To maintain a gradient mask while switching to the Edit Brush, hold down Shift and click the Edit Brush button to add to the gradient mask or erase parts of it.

See also: