Photoshop Elements >
Burning & Dodging >
Selecting Tones >
Tone Selections
With a Gradient Map >
1 - Make a Gradient
You can use a Gradient Map adjustment layer to select a range
of tones.
We'll use the photograph below.
Be sure to check off as you go along.
Preparation
1) Preserve your
original file.
If you haven't already done so, go to
Preserve Your Original File.
2) Create a Background copy layer.
If you haven't already done so, go to
Create a Background Copy Layer.
Gradient Map Adjustment Layer
Let's make a gradient map.
Once made, you can save the gradient map and reuse it at any
time.
1) Make sure
the foreground color is black, and the background color is
white.
If you haven't already, go to
Foreground & Background Colors.
2) Create a Gradient Map adjustment layer (not a Gradient adjustment
layer).
Click Create
adjustment layer icon, the half-dark, half-bright, circle at the
top of the Layers panel (Layers palette), and select Gradient Map.
Your photograph will shift from color to B&W.
The Gradient Map window will open.
3) Click the
gradient in the middle of the window to open the Gradient editor
window.
4) If it isn't
already selected by default, select the Foreground to Background
gradient.
The Foreground to Background gradient fades from black to gray
to white.
On the top of the gradient, at the ends, are two square icons
called opacity stops.
Opacity Stops on TOP of the Gradient
Ignore the opacity stops.
The square icons below the gradient, at the ends, are called
color stops.
Color Stops on the Bottom of the Gradient
We'll use the color stops to change the color of the gradient.
5) Double click
the black color stop, at the left end, beneath the gradient, to
open the Color Picker window.
Make sure you're
clicking the black color stop on the bottom of the gradient—not
the black opacity stop on top of the gradient.
6) Enter 255
in the R box, and 0 in the G and B boxes.
Your photograph will shift from B&W to red-and-white.
7) Double click
the white color stop, at the right end, beneath the gradient, to
open the Color Picker window.
Make sure you're
clicking the white color stop on the bottom of the gradient—not
the black opacity stop on top of the gradient.
8) Enter 0 in
the R and G boxes, and 255 in the B box.
Your photograph will shift from red-and-white to red-and-blue.
9) Click just
below the gradient, about two-thirds from the left end, to create
a new color stop.
The color stop will be blue.
10) Click, hold,
and drag the new color stop left or right to position it at the
66% location, as seen in the Location box.
11) Click just
below the gradient, about one-third from the left end, to create
another color stop.
The second, new, color stop will also be blue.
12) Click, hold,
and drag the new color stop left or right to position it at the
33% location, as seen in the Location box.
13) Change the
color of BOTH of the new stops from blue to white.
Double click
each color stop to open the Color Picker window, and enter 255 in
the R, G, and B boxes.
Be sure to change
the color of BOTH of the new stops from blue to white.
The gradient should look like this.
Your red-and-white photograph will become red-white-and-blue.
The shadows are red.
The midtones are white.
The highlights are blue.
Save the Gradient
1) In the Name
box, type in a new name for the gradient, such as Select a Tone
Gradient.
2) Click New.
Your gradient is now saved with the default gradients.
Let's select one of the tones/colors.
