How To Color Tone Using Gradient Maps

On this basic video tutorial Aaron Nace from Phlearn how to add a gradient map to your images to add a touch of artistic touch but with loads of fine control.

To start with we add our gradient map by going to Layer> new adjustment layer>gradient map in Photoshop. What we get is a filter which analyzes the highlights, mid-tones, and shadows in your image and maps them to different colors that you choose.

All you need to do to edit an existing gradient, click on the color swatches below the gradient, which will bring up another color box where you can choose a new color. You can also move the color swatches by clicking and dragging them from left to right.

That is the whole idea of gradient map you have the option to change the color of your highlights, mid-tones, and shadows in your image – you can do this manually or choose presets including more advanced ones like the photographic toning with some really cool options.

You might think of the presets as similar to instagram filters but with lots more control over the specific colors which is really cool (and of course you do have the full power of Photoshop here without the restrictions of instagram.

You can find many more Photoshop video tutorials on LensVid’s Photoshop section (and you can find a lot more Phlearn videos on our special Phlearn subsection).

Iddo Genuth

Iddo Genuth is the founder and chief editor of LensVid.com. He has been a technology reporter working for international publications since the late 1990's and covering photography since 2009. Iddo is also a co-founder of a production company specializing in commercial food and product visual content.