Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Some of Elements' gradients use your current foreground and background colors, or you can
choose from a number of preset gradients with different color schemes. When the Gradient
tool is active, in the Tool Options area, click the triangle to the right of the gradient thumb-
nail to see a palette of different gradients, grouped into categories; use the palette's drop-
down menu to choose one and see what it contains. (You can work with the gradients in only
one category at a time.)
You can download gradients from the Web and add them to your library using the Preset
Manager (
Stuff from the Internet
);
Stuff from the Internet
has suggestions of where to look.
You can also create your own gradients from scratch. Creating and editing gradients is ex-
plained starting on
Editing Gradients
.
To apply a gradient with the Gradient tool, first make a selection if you don't want Elements
to apply the gradient to your whole image. Then follow these steps:
1.
Choose the colors you want to use for your gradient
.
In the Tools panel, click the foreground and background color squares to choose col-
ors. (Remember, some gradients ignore these colors and use their own preset colors
instead.)
2.
Activate the Gradient tool
.
Click its icon in the Tools panel (the black-and-white rectangle) or press G.
3.
Select a gradient
.
Go to the Tool Options area, click the tiny triangle to the right of the gradient thumb-
nail, and then choose the one you want. (If you see the Gradient Editor window, you
clicked the thumbnail itself; close the Gradient Editor and try again.) Then make any
other necessary changes to the Tool Options settings, which are explained in a mo-
ment.
4.
Apply the gradient
.
Drag in your image to show Elements where the gradient should run. If you're using a
linear gradient, you can make it run vertically by dragging up or down, or make it go
horizontally by dragging sideways. For Radial, Reflection, and Diamond gradients,
try dragging from the center of your image to an edge. (To drag in a straight line hori-
zontally, vertically, or at a 45-degree angle, press Shift as you drag.) You can drag at
an angle, too.
