Free Online Classes

 Photos can look dull because of the environment and weather. For decades, photographers have been using graduated filters to cure this problem. Now you can add a graduated filter to your photos without the hassle of using graduated filters. Read this Photoshop tutorial to find out how to enhance almost any dull photos you have.

How to Enhance Dull Photos using a Graduated Filter

Step 1

Open a photo into Photoshop. The image below is an example of a dull image caused mainly by the environment lighting and weather. The overcast sky makes the photo look boring. This photo would have looked a lot better if it was taken during dawn, dusk, or even a sunset to get the silhouette effect. However, because this image wasn't taken at the best time of day, we'll use a graduated filter to enhance the photo.

Step 2

In the Layers Palette, click on the New Adjustment Layer button and choose Gradient.

Leave the default settings and click OK. We should change the blending mode of the adjustment layer before we work on the gradient fill settings.

Step 3

Change the blending mode to Multiply.

Step 4

Double click back on the Gradient Fill layer to open the settings. First, you'll need to change the gradient to one that you like. Start by choosing the foreground to transparent gradient. Then click ok the gradient to bring up the gradient editor. Then, click on the input slider where #2 is shown in the image below then click on the color where #3 is shown. A window will appear where you can select the color. Click on the color that you would like to use then click OK and then OK again to exit out of the Gradient editor.

Step 5

Now you have the gradient you want but it may not be positioned correctly. With the Gradient Fill settings opened, click on the document window and drag the gradient up or down to position it. Like a Cokin filter holder for graduated filters, you can move the filter up or down to position the gradient where you want it.

You can also adjust the scale to adjust the fade. This is one of the biggest advantages of simulating a graduated filter digitally with Photoshop versus using a real Cokin graduated filter in field. Adjust the Scale to adjust the fade of the gradient. You can also alter the angle if you have a tilted horizon or if you just want to tilt the gradient for your own effect.

Final Results

Here is the before and after image. As you can see, the gradient filter adds a lot of drama to the photo. I used a color between tobacco and orange to intensify the mood of the photo.