The winner of the Creating Keepsakes subscription giveaway is commenter #1, Ava who commented:

The only times I’ve used gradients are those with tutorials that I can follow. Looks like I have to practice just a little bit more…thanks Deena. I always love your lay-outs.

Congratulations Ava! Please send us an email to claim your prize.

Hey RP fans! Deena Boese from Creating Keepsakes magazine back at the table with another Photoshop tutorial! I was recently talking with a reader who was just dipping her feet into the digital waters. She commented that her first digital layout was looking “flat” and unfinished. She wanted to know if I had a favorite trick that was easy, versatile and added that extra finishing touch. I gotta admit. This girl made me think! Then it hit me. Gradients! I use them in almost every project I design. From blending colors, to adding shadow depth, to editing photos…this trusty solution is one I always rely on. Let’s take a look at some of the fun and easy ways gradients can be used!

Foreground to Background

Here is an example of a basic gradient that blends a foreground color of blue with a background color of green. Try layering a gradient over textured paper and applying a blending mode for added depth.

I Adore by Deena Boese, as seen in the August 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine

Foreground to Transparent

This layout uses a gradient from a foreground color of white to transparent. The transparent grade at the bottom of the layout allows the patterned paper to show then graduates to crisp opaque white at the top.

Lavender Eyes by Deena Boese

Photo Effects

Here I set my foreground color to blue and selected the FOREGROUND TO TRANSPARENT gradient option to add a beautiful blue sky to my photos.

Captivate by Deena Boese, as seen in the Budget Friendly Scrapbooking issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine

Create Housing for Text

Another great trick is to use a black to transparent gradient over a photo or busy patterned paper to create a home for a title or journaling.

Wanna learn how simple it is to create and use gradients? Read on! 

1. In Photoshop, open a new document. Select LAYER > NEW FILL LAYER > GRADIENT. Click OK.
2. In the dialog box, click on the Gradient drop down arrow to open the Gradient Picker. Here you can choose from Foreground to Background, Foreground to Transparent, or a range of additional color options. Here you can also adjust the style, angle and scale of your gradient.
3. If you would like to do further editing, click inside the gradient box to bring up the Gradient Editor. Here you can custom select two colors you wish to blend. Select the Foreground to Background preset, then double click on the bottom left Color Stop slider.
4. Select your first hue from the color picker and click OK. Repeat the process with the bottom right Color Stop slider and select your second hue. Click OK.
5. If you would like more of your foreground color to show than your background (or vice versa), you can adjust the Color Midpoint but dragging the center slider over to one side or another. Click OK
6. In the layers panel, position your gradient above a photo, shape, or text then right click and select CREATE CLIPPING MASK. You’re done! Try experimenting with layering gradients over textured papers and adjusting blending modes and opacities to create endless and unique looks!

And now you know! I hope you have fun experimenting with the multitude of ways you can create and use gradients on your digital layouts! For easy reference, I’ve included a PDF handout you can download and add to your “Wanna Learn How” library. And as a bonus gift, I’ve also included this gradient-infused graphic you can download for FREE!

As always, we want to hear from you! Have you seen a digital technique that made you say, “Oooh! I wanna learn how to do that!”? Leave a comment to let us know what techniques you want to see here. I have a free one-year subscription to Creating Keepsakes magazine in my hands that will go to one random (and lucky) commenter. So be sure to drop us a line to be entered in the drawing! Good luck!

 DOWNLOADS

Tutorial: How To Create and Use Gradients
Download: Gradient Graphic (Layered PSD templates)
Download: Gradient Graphic (Transparent PNG file)

Deena Boese

Deena Boese is a Contributing Writer for Creating Keepsakes magazine and enjoys designing both digital and hybrid projects for each issue. She was first published with Creating Keepsakes in early 2007. Deena has a passion for story-telling and graphic design, and brings these elements into her digital and hybrid scrapbooking.

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