Editing Gradients

You can change the colors, transition points, and transparency of gradients on the Gradient Editor dialog. You can edit Paint Shop Pros default gradients or create your own gradients. You can also rename, delete, import, and export gradients.

To specify the colors and transition points of the gradient, use settings in the Gradient group box. To change the transition points, edit the location of markers and midpoints on the gradient bar:

• Markers indicate points of solid color.

• Midpoints indicate the positions where two colors are equally blended. Each pair of markers has a midpoint that can be located anywhere between the markers.

To specify the transparency of the gradient, including opacity values and transition points, use the settings in the Transparency group box. Markers and midpoints indicate the places where the transparency changes. You change and add markers and midpoints on the transparency bar, which represents the transparency of the gradient across its width.

To display the Gradient Editor dialog:

1. On the Materials palette, click the Foreground Material box or the Background Material box.
   The Material Properties dialog opens.

2. Click the Gradient tab.

3. Choose the gradient you want to edit, then click the Edit button.

To change the location of markers and midpoints:

Do one of the following:

• Click and drag the marker or midpoint to a new location.

• Click the marker or midpoint to select it, then enter a value in the Location field.

To add a new marker:

Click a position under the gradient bar or the transparency bar.

For the gradient bar, the markers initial color is determined by the currently highlighted Fore, Back, or Custom button. Click another color button to change the color.

For the transparency bar, the markers initial opacity is 100%. Change this value in the Opacity edit box.

To delete a marker:

Click the marker and drag it away from the gradient bar or the transparency bar.

To change the color for a marker:

1. Click the marker below the gradient bar to select it. The triangle at the top of the marker turns black.

2. Choose a color by doing one of the following:

3.  To use the foreground color, click the Fore button .

4.  To use the background color, click the Back button .

5.  To use the currently defined custom color, click the Custom button .

6.  To choose a new custom color, left-click the Custom color box to select from the Color Picker or right-click to select from recently used colors.

7.  To select a color from within the gradient itself, click the gradient bar.

To change marker transparency:

1. Click the marker below the transparency bar to select it. The triangle at the top of the marker turns black.

2. Change the value in the Opacity edit box. Values range from 0% (completely transparent) to 100% (opaque the underlying pixels are covered completely).

Saving Edited Gradients

After editing a gradient via the Gradient Editor dialog, you can save the gradient as follows:

1. Click the Copy button. This displays the Copy Gradient dialog.

2. Enter a unique name for the gradient, and then click OK.

3. You'll see a message asking to confirm that you wish to save the gradient. Click Yes.

Creating New Gradient Types

You can create a new gradient type that is selectable from the drop-down list of the Gradient tab of the Material dialog. If you use the foreground and background colors to define the gradient, the images current foreground and background colors are used when you apply the gradient. To create a gradient type that always uses the same colors, use custom colors for all markers.

To create a new gradient type:

1. Display the Gradient Editor dialog.

2. Click the New button. This displays the New Gradient dialog.

3. Type a name for the new gradient.

4. Click OK.

The gradient is initially defined with two markers at 0 and 100% that use the custom color. You can now edit the gradient.

Exporting Gradients

After creating a new gradient, you may want to export it to use in another program. Although Paint Shop Pros default gradients are stored in .PspGradient format, you export gradients as .GRD format, which is commonly used in other applications.

To export a gradient:

1. Display the Gradient Editor dialog.

2. If you have not already selected the gradient to export, choose it from the Types box and edit its settings as desired.

3. Click the Export button. This displays the Export dialog.

4. Select the folder in which to save the gradient. Paint Shop Pros default gradients are stored in the Gradients folder within the Paint Shop Pro program folder.

5. In the File name field, type a name for the new gradient.

6. Click the Export button.

Importing Gradients

You can import gradients in the .GRD file format, which is a format used in other applications.

To import a .GRD gradient:

1. Display the Gradient Editor dialog.

2. Click the Import button. This displays the Import dialog.

3. Select the folder containing the gradient you want to import. All .GRD files are listed.

4. Select the gradient file name.

5. Click Import.

Renaming and Deleting Gradients

You can rename or delete gradient types.

To rename a gradient:

1. Display the gradient you want to rename in the Gradient Editor dialog.

2. Click the Rename button. This displays the Rename Gradient dialog.

3. Type the new name.

4. Click OK.

To delete a gradient:

1. Click the gradient you want to delete in the Gradient Editor dialog.

2. Click the Delete button. You'll see a message asking to confirm the deletion.

3. Click Yes.

Related Topics

Using the Materials Palette

Understanding Color and Color Models

How Monitor and Print Colors Differ

Working with Color Channels

Understanding Color Depth

Working with Image Palettes

Making a Palette Color Transparent