> PHOTOSHOP USER>^ OCTOBER 2020[ 60 ]
- CREATE CUSTOM COLOR THEMES AND GRADIENTS
FROM YOUR IMAGES
For me, creating a unique color theme is an essential part of digital
art. Using the same color theme across multiple images can create
a unique look that will add a personal touch to a project. The recent
addition of the Capture extension in Photoshop makes creating color
themes much easier and more enjoyable.
Open the image from which you want to create a color
theme. Click the + icon at the bottom of the Libraries panel
(Window>Libraries), and select Create from Image. Click on the
Color Themes module at the top of the dialog, and the Capture
extension will create a color theme based on your image. You can
change the Color Mood using the drop-down menu at the top right,
as well as adjust every single color being sampled in your image.
To change any of the colors being sampled, click on one of the
color stops (circles with plus icons) on your image and drag it
to another color to sample that color. Click Save to CC Libraries
to save the new color theme to the currently opened library in the
Libraries panel.
52. MOVE GROUPS BETWEEN
CREATIVE CLOUD LIBRARIES
At the top of the Libraries panel (Window>Libraries) you have the
option to view the assets in a library either by type (Graphics, Color
Themes, Gradients, etc.) or by group. Using groups is a great way to
keep your libraries organized. If you choose to View by Group, and you
don’t have any groups in that library, it will give you the option to create
a group. You can then use the Create Group icon (folder) at the bottom
of the panel to create additional groups.
Moving groups between Creative Cloud Libraries can also help
you stay organized and save a lot of time instead of moving individual
images. To move any group from the active CC library to any other CC
library, click on the three-dot icon (...) next to the group’s name. From
the drop-down menu, click on Move To, and then select the library to
which you want to move it. You can also Right-click on any asset and
choose Move To, and select the library and group to which you want
to move the asset.
53. CREATE YOUR OWN WATERCOLOR BRUSH
The watercolor brushes in Photoshop can bring a very unique and
elegant touch to any painting. You can also create your own unique
watercolor brush. Here’s how: Switch to the Brush tool (B), and in the
Brushes panel (Window>Brushes), select the Soft Round brush at the
top of the list. Set its size to 100 px so you’ll have a better preview
of the brush that you’ll be creating. Open the Brush Settings panel
(Window>Brush Settings), and then use the following settings. (Note:
All the values listed here are my preferences and can be adjusted to
meet your specific needs.)
First, make sure Smoothing is turned off in the Brush Settings on
the left, and then click on the word “Transfer” to turn it on and access its
options. Use the following settings:- Opacity Jitter: 43%
- Opacity Jitter Control: Pen Pressure (for graphic tablet users)
- Minimum: 52%
- Flow Jitter: 37%
- Flow Jitter Control: Pen Pressure
Next, click on the words “Color Dynamics” on the left and use
these settings:- Check the Apply Per Tip box
- Foreground/Background Jitter: 50%
- Foreground/Background Jitter Control: Pen Pressure
- Purity: 59%
Now the brush will paint with two colors: 50% of the Foreground color
and 50% of the Background color.
Finally, click on Shape Dynamics on the left and use these settings:- Size Jitter: 100%
- Size Jitter Control: Pen Pressure
VICTORIA PAVLOVTo create a new gradient from an image, click on the Gradient
module. The Capture extension will create a new gradient based on
the colors in your image. You can increase or decrease the number
of Gradient Stops using the slider at the top right. Move the color
stops to another location on the image to choose another color for
any color stop. Clicking Save to CC Libraries will save a new gradi-
ent to the opened library.
To apply the new gradient to any active document, make sure
you have an unlocked layer active and click on the gradient in the
Libraries panel. Adobe Photoshop will apply a new gradient to the
active document as a Gradient Fill layer with a mask. If the layer has
any content, it will automatically clip the Gradient Fill to the active
layer. Changing the blend mode and layer’s Opacity will help to
create a unique look.