I will explain how to use gradient layers (screentones) when working on black-and-white manuscripts.

 

[1] Basic method of creating gradient layers

You can draw gradients directly on the raster layer using the [Gradient] tool, but in this lesson I will introduce gradient layers.

The [Gradient layer] looks the same as a normal gradient. However, this layer is useful because you can precisely adjust the size, color and shape of the gradient using the [Object] tool.

 

You can create a [Gradient layer] using the following two methods.

 

 

 

■ [A] Create a new layer from the layer menu

 

(1) Select [Layer] menu → [New Layer] → [Gradient].

 

(2) A [Gradient layer] is created on the canvas. In the [Layer] palette, it is created above the selected layer.

 

The gradient is vertical when created, but you can edit the angle and shape afterwards using [Tool Property] under the [Object] tool.

• I will introduce the details of the [Object] tool in section [4].

 

 

 

■ [B] Create a [Gradient layer] using the [Gradient] tool

 

(1) Select the [Gradient] tool on the [Tool] palette.

 

(2) Select the settings you want to use in the [Sub Tool] palette. In this example, I will select “Foreground to background”.

 

(3) Select [Create gradient layer] in the [Drawing target] section of the [Tool Property] palette.

 

(4) Use the [Gradient] tool on the canvas to create a [Gradient layer].

 

(5) The direction that you drag the [Gradient] tool will change the angle of the gradient. You can also adjust the angle afterwards from [Tool properties] of the [Object] tool.

 

NOTE: Converting a [Tone layer] to a [Gradient layer]

While selecting the [Tone layer] with the [Layer] palette, operate the [Tool Property] palette of the [Object] tool.

Change the [Fill] section of the [Tool Property] from [Fill] to [Gradient].

 

The [Tone] layer will change to [Gradient layer]. Conversely, you can change a gradient layer to be filled with tone.

 

[2] Selecting the color of the gradient

The color of [Gradient layer] created with [1] is automatically set based on the [Drawing color] (color inside the red frame in the figure below) and [Background color] (color inside the blue frame in the figure below) displayed in the [Color] palette.

If you know which color you want, create the gradient layer after setting the drawing color and background color.

 

If the basic expression color of the canvas is [Monochrome] or [Gray], if you set a color other than white/black/gray (like blue and red) for the settings of [Drawing color] and [Background color], they will be converted to white/black/gray automatically and displayed according to the [Density] settings of the [Layer Property] palette.

 

Furthermore, if [Density] is set to [Use color of image], an opaque [Gradient layer] will be created, hiding any layers below.

 

To see through to the layers underneath, change the [Blending mode] of the [Gradient layer] in the [Layer] palette to [Multiply], or change the [Density] settings in the [Layer Property] palette to [Use brightness of image].

 

Please read the following article to learn more about [Layer Property].

 

[3] Adding a gradient tone in certain sections

If you create a [Gradient layer] using the basic method explained in section [1], the [Gradient layer] will cover the entire canvas.

 

Use the following method to add a [Gradient layer] only on certain areas.

 

 

 

■[A] Create selection area and paste tone

 

(1) Create a selection area in the place you want to add a [Gradient layer] using the [Auto select] tool. Here, I would like to paste a gradient tone on the girl’s hair.

• In the image below, the selection area of the hair is displayed using a quick mask (red).

 

(2) Select [Layer] menu → [New Layer] → [Gradient].

 

(3) This creates a gradient layer that matches the height and width of the selection area, and adds the gradient tone.

 

 

 

■[B] Delete the mask of the gradient layer and add tone with pen

 

(2) Select [Layer] menu → [New Layer] → [Gradient] and create a gradient layer on the entire canvas. This time, I want to add a pattern on the white background.

 

(2) In the [Layer] palette, click the [Mask] thumbnail of the [Gradient layer].

 

• Please read the following article to learn about Layer Masks.

 

(3) Click [Clear] from the [Edit] menu or press the delete key to [Mask] the whole layer.

• When the gradient is initially displayed on the entire layer, the mask is not applied.

 

(4) Now, even though the [Gradient layer] exists on the [Layer] palette, the gradient is not visible on the canvas because the entire layer is masked.

 

(5) Create a selection area in the place you want to display the gradient using the [Auto select] tool or another suitable tool.

• In the figure below, the selection area is displayed using quick mask (red) to make it more visible.

 

(6) Afterwards, check that the [Mask] part on the gradient layer thumbnail is selected on the [Layer] palette, and draw using the [Drawing color] or [Background color] with tools such as the [Pen] tool or [Decoration] tool.

On the areas I draw on, the mask is removed and you can see the gradient again.

 

(7) Conversely, you can draw on the visible part of the [Mask] on the [Gradient layer] using the [Eraser] tool or drawing tools in a [Transparent color] to mask the drawn part. By using this, you can create an effect similar to erasing the tone.

In the figure below, the shiny parts of the hair are masked.

 

NOTE:

When selecting the [Gradient layer], you can set [Posterization] under [Mask expression] on the [Layer Property] palette to [Yes] to create a blurred effect. However, the completed data will become [Gray] instead of [Monochrome].

 

In addition, if you draw on the [Mask] with brushes like [Airbrush] or tools with anti-aliasing when posterization is on, the halftone dots will change to gray. Be aware that this could make the data unsuitable for printing.

 

[4] Using the object tool to move, rotate and change size

On a [Gradient layer], you can easily move, rotate and change the size of the gradient using [Object] in the [Operation] tool.

 

 

 

■[A] Moving the gradient

 

Using the [Object] tool, drag the gradient to move the starting point ① and ending point ②. This makes the entire gradient move.

 

NOTE: The difference between the [Operation] tool and [Move layer] tool.

Although the result looks similar, there is a difference between moving the tone pattern using [Object] in the [Operation] tool and moving the layer with the [Move layer] tool.

You can see the difference when there is a mask on the layer. If you move the tone with the [Move layer] tool, the mask will move with the tone pattern.

 

However, if you move the tone using [Object] the position of mask will remain fixed. Only the tone pattern will move.

 

If you disable the link between the mask and the layer, there is no difference between the two tools.

 

 

 

■[B] Adjusting the direction and size of gradient

 

Drag the ending point shown on the canvas using the [Object] tool to change the gradient size or direction of the [Gradient layer].

If you drag the ending point closer to or further from the starting point, the size of the gradient will get smaller or larger.

 

 

 

■[C] Details about [Tool Property] of [Object] (Gradient layer) tool

 

You can set the density and shape of the [Gradient layer] using the [Tool Property] displayed by selecting the [Object] sub tool of the [Operation] tool and clicking [Gradient layer] on the [Layer] palette.

Create your desired gradient based on the above explanations.

This article only introduces sections related to gradient settings.

 

① Settings of filling

If a radient layer] is selected in the [Layer] palette, [Gradient] is automatically selected. Select [Fill] to convert the [Gradient layer] into a [Tone layer].

 

② Color bar

A preview of the gradient will be displayed.

If you created a [Gradient layer] using the basic method explained in section [1], the left node (△) is assigned to [Drawing color] and the right node is assigned to [Background color].

 

Drag and move the node (△) sideways to change the gradient according to the position of the node.

 

In addition, by clicking the area with a ruler-like grid, you can add a node at any position. Additional nodes can be deleted by dragging them to the bottom of the screen.

 

The □, which is in the same position as the node (△) on the other side of the color bar, displays the currently set color.

 

③ Advanced Settings

Click the [Advanced Settings] button or click inside the color bar to display the [Edit gradient] dialog box.

 

(A) Color bar: This displays a preview of the gradient.

 

(B) Select the node: Click the [＜] button to select the node to the left of the currently selected node (△), and click the [＞] button to select the node to the right of the currently selected node.

 

(C) Invert gradient button: Invert the current position of gradient node (△) left and right.

 

(D) Delete node: Delete the selected node. A minimum of two nodes are required for a gradient. This option can be used when there are more than three nodes.

 

(E) Position: This value represents the position of the selected node. The value of gradient is 0 at the left side and 100 at the right side. You can check these values when you want to place the nodes at regular intervals.

 

(F) Opacity: This value indicates the opacity of the selected node.

Values closer to 100 are more opaque, and values closer to 0 are more transparent.

 

(G) Specified color: Select this section to assign a color, which is specified by clicking the box on the right side, to the selected node.

 

(H) Main drawing color: Select this section to assign a main drawing color to the selected node. This is linked with the [Drawing color] and [Background color] on the color palette.

 

(I) Sub drawing color: Select this section to assign a sub drawing color to the selected node. This is linked with the [Drawing color] and [Background color] on the color palette.

 

(J) Mixing rate curve: When this section is turned on, the mixing rate of the selected node and the right node can be specified with a curve. By specifying the mixing rate using a curve, you can create a complicated gradient density without the need of multiple nodes.

 

The curve in the initial settings is as follows.

 

Click any point in the frame to add a curve point, and delete it by dragging the point out of the frame. You can edit the curve as you like by dragging the points.

 

For example, when the left side node is black and the right side node is white, you can change the curve to create a gradient like the one below even with only two nodes.

 

NOTE:

The mixing rate curve is displayed after calculations to make a smooth curve between the nodes For example, if you place four nodes like in the image below, an S-shaped curve will display.

To draw a line with sharp edges, place two nodes where you want to create a sharp point. The image below shows a mixing rate curve with sharp points created by using six nodes.

 

④ Shape

In this section, you can change the shape, size, and angle of the gradient.

 

(A) Straight line: This sets the shape of the gradient to a straight line.

 

(B) Circle: This sets the shape of the gradient to a circle. Change the size using the control points to scale the circle up or down.

 

(C) Ellipse: This sets the shape of the gradient to an ellipse. The vertical and horizontal control points are paired, so they move together when adjusted.

 

(D) Size: This value indicates the drawing size of the gradient. It represents the distance from the starting point to the ending point.

 

(E) Angles: This value represents the gradient angle. The right of the starting point is 0 degrees and the left side is 180 degrees. The bottom half represents the positive values 1 to 179, while the upper half represents the negative values -1 to -179. You do not need to set any angle value when the shape is a [Circle].

 

(F) Thickness: This value represents the gradient thickness. This is only enabled if the shape is set to [Ellipse].

 

⑤ Processing the edges

This section is used to adjust the drawing settings of the gradient.