Gradient mapping gives artistic tones to photos

final renderings

Original picture
The main topic here is the use of gradient mapping in color grading. This year I spent a lot of time on the channel mixer and gradient mapping tools for color grading. I found that these two tools are very good in color grading. They don’t require too much. The complicated steps can achieve very ideal results. Maybe many friends find it difficult to use these two tools, but if they are used well, it will be a big improvement for Gao Yuanqi.

1. First open the original image, retouch the skin and some flaws, and make a gradient mapping adjustment layer. The color settings are as shown in the figure. This color system comes with it. The principle has been explained in the previous tutorial, so I won’t repeat it here. Mix the color transparency to 27%, then make a color balance adjustment layer, midtone, 0/+4/-20/, without maintaining brightness. After completing these two steps, you will get the pattern effect on the right.

2. After completing the above two steps, you can choose to merge the layers or not. When I was doing this tutorial, I merged all the layers for the convenience of screenshots. Let’s continue and create a new blank layer with the default foreground color. Set the gradient tool as shown in the picture. Pull the gradient on the blank layer and darken the blending mode. The opacity depends on the weight of your gradient. The purpose of this step is to suppress the vignetting. Next, adjust the level: 5/1.13/248. It is to slightly add contrast to the hair, and the final step is to temporarily obtain the picture effect.

3. Merge, copy the background, adjust color balance, do not maintain brightness, midtones: -19/+16/0, to retain details we continue to change the blending mode to color, adjust the curve as shown (186.200/67.56) and change the opacity 60%, copy the latest currency background, sharpen it appropriately, change the canvas size and layout, and the effect of this example is ready. This morning I mainly talk about the use of the gradient mapping tool. The values ​​​​are only for the materials of this tutorial.

final renderings