Photoshop Tutorials > Basic Tutorials > Gradients

GRADIENTS

1 ) Getting Started

This is a fairly simple tutorial on gradients. I was asked how to create the beam effect you see in the topbar on Amp3d and I tried to explain it but found it difficult to convey without images so I decided to write this tut on it. Let's get started. Lets select the gradient tool(1) if you can't find it on your toolbar locate the paint bucket tool and then click and hold on it until you get a menu(2) (the menus may vary between versions) then select the gradent tool or icon

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Next we want to locate the gradient menu on the options bar(3). Click on the areas I have highlighted in green this should open up the gradient editor(4)

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2 ) The Grad Editor

First click in the name box and name it something like "beam". Now we focus on the gradient editing area. First take notice of the sliders (A and B). The top sliders(A) control the opacity of the gradient and the bottom sliders(B) control the color of the gradient. At this point the editor box should look like the above image(4). Let's start by creating a new slider in opacity by clicking right above the gradient bar. Give this slider these values:

• Opacity: 100
• Location: 50

Next we change the other two opacity sliders. Leave the location as it is and change the opacity of them to 0. Next we want to change the colors(B). So click on one of the two color sliders and assign it as the foreground color and do the same for the other. (one may already be set as such) Now your editing area should look like mine(5). If the color is not white or whatever color you want don't worry about it we will fix that a little later. Now click the "NEW" button to store your gradient then finally click "OK."

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Now if you want a white beam hit "d" to set the colors to default the "x" to switch the foreground with the background. This should set the foreground to white and the background to black. If you want any other color just change the foreground to that color.

3 ) Beam Me Up

First lets get an image to start with something simple here's what I'm going to use.

Now lets start may creating a new layer(6). On the new layer we wan to create the beam. We want the beam to look like it is coming out of the hole in the shape so first we have the gradient tool selected then we create the gradient(7) and it should end up something like figure 8.

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4 ) Control the Beam

So far it looks kinda weird right? I mean the beam is in the foreground. So what we want to do is make the beam seem to come through the hole. First go back to the bottom layer and using the magic wand tool(9A) select the black area (don't forget the black in the hole). Next inverse(shift+ctrl+I) the selection. You should now have the shape selected. Next using the polygonal lasso tool(9B) holding alt deselect the bottom part of the shape.

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This should leave you with a selection similar to the green area in figure 10.

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Contract this selection by 1 px. Now you need to do is select the beam layer and then delete the selection. And finally add a gaussian blur of 5 to the beam. The final product should look something like this.

You can also delete the part of teh gradient behind the shape to make it look like it was shot by the shape.

Enjoy the tutorial.