Gradient Maps in Adobe Photoshop

Ready to elevate your Photoshop skills? In this short, hands-on class, you’ll discover the magic of the gradient mapping tool in Adobe Photoshop.

We’ll start with the basics of gradient maps—what they are, how they work, and why they’re such a powerful tool. Then, we’ll dive into combining gradient maps with other tools to unlock their full potential. Finally, I’ll share advanced techniques to take your work to the next level.

What’s a gradient map?

A gradient map remaps the tones of an image—from dark to light—to the colors of your chosen gradient. Dark tones shift to one end of the gradient, light tones to the other, and everything in between transitions seamlessly.

We’ll be working with non-destructive adjustment layers throughout the class, giving you the flexibility to tweak both the gradient map and the underlying layers at any time.

By the end of this class, you’ll have the skills to create vibrant, dynamic visuals with ease—whether you’re editing photos, designing graphics, or working on digital art.

What the class covers:

• The basics of using gradients in Adobe Photoshop
• Managing gradients
• Using curves with gradient maps
• Photo editing with gradient maps
• Adding a clipping mask
• Drawing using a gradient map
• Drawing using the stripe method
• A nifty selection tool trick

What you’ll need:

• Adobe Photoshop (any version with gradient mapping).
• A pressure-sensitive drawing tablet (optional for advanced lessons).

Let’s dive in and create something stunning together!