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6. The Tools in the Toolbox / 6.3 Tools for Image Layers

### 6.3.13 The Color Gradient

The gradient tool creates color gradients.

With the first combo box you can select the kind of gradient. The available types are: Linear, Circle, Radial Reflected and Radial.

Use Edit... to handle predefined gradients. These gradients are stored in the file Blend.ble in the folder Defaults in the PhotoLine working directory.

The color bar gives you a small preview of the result. Additionally it is possible to show a list of the predefined gradients by right-clicking (Windows) or by Ctrl+click (macOS). Then you can choose one of those gradients. By clicking and dragging in the color bar you can transfer the current gradient to another color bar or to a color field. The opposite is possible, too: you can drag a gradient color from a color field to a color bar.

The color fields below the color bar can be moved with the mouse. The color bar is changing accordingly. If you are dragging a color field outside the bar, the color will be deleted.

By clicking in the free space of the bar, you create new color fields. Holding the Ctrl-key (Windows) or the Command-key (macOS) uses the bar color at this position for the new color field.

Double-clicking can change the color of the color fields.

The arrow at the right edge allows to access extended functionality (see chapter 3.4.6.1 and following).

Color gradients can be created in the RGB color space and in the HIS color space. HIS-gradients are usually more colorful.

To use the gradient in an image, simply drag a line in the image. After creation the gradient can be further adjusted:

- Clicking and dragging moves a gradient color.
- By clicking on the gradient line a new color is created.
- Dragging a color away deletes that color. But note, that there have to be at least two colors in the gradient.
- The context menu of the gradient line allows to modify the gradient type and the color space.

If only the A-channel is selected in the Tool Settings, the gradient tool has a special behavior. In this case the transparency of the gradient will replace the existing transparency, instead of being added to it.

You can also create a gradient in the mask by selecting the Edit Mask icon (see chapter 4.5.2.4).

If In Active Layer is turned off, the gradient is not drawn into the active image layer, but a new vector layer is created.