You are here: Edit Mode > Working in Edit Mode > Using the Radial Gradient Tool

Using the Radial Gradient Tool

While the Edit tools allow you to make a variety of adjustments, sometimes you want these effects to draw attention to a specific area of your photo. For example, instead of applying sharpening across an entire photo, you may want to only sharpen the center subject. Use the Radial Gradient tool to apply effects around, or directly to, a center point.

Radial Gradient Tool

The Radial Gradient tool button displays at the top of the Editing panel toolbar for all applicable Edit mode tools.

To Use the Gradient Tool:

  1. In Edit mode, select the tool you want to use.
  2. Click the Radial Gradienttool button to enter Radial Gradient mode. Or, toggle the Radial Gradient panel open and closed with the R key.
  3. Specify the Radial Gradient settings in the panel or on the fly, as described in the table below.
  4. Position the guides on your photo. Inside the circle, the image is unaltered. At the perimeter of the circle, the effect being applied by the Radial Gradient is transitioning between not applied at all (inside), and full strength (outside). To make this clearer, check the Show gradient mask checkbox. Hold down the SHIFT key while positioning the effect to change the radial gradient to a perfect circle.
  5. Adjust the sliders to get the effect you want.
  6. Press Done.

Gradient Tool Options

Invert gradient

Toggle this option to invert the radial gradient. By pressing the Invert button, the effects will be applied to the center of the image (inside the circular guides), and outside of the radial gradient will be unaltered.

Show gradient mask

When this option is checked, your radial gradient mask will be displayed in the color shown. Alternatively, hold down the S key to see the mask on the image. Click the drop-down arrow to select another display color.

Alternating between the Radial Gradient Tool and cursor-applied tools

For filters that involve drawing or clicking on the image, such as Lighting and White Balance, hold down the ALT key to switch from Radial Gradient mode to using the tool.

To exit Radial Gradient mode, toggle the Gradient tool button.

To maintain your radial gradient mask while switching to Edit Brush mode, hold down SHIFT and click the Edit Brush button. This allows you to add to the gradient mask or erase parts of it that you don't want.

The Radial Gradient tool is enabled in many of the editing tools and special effects filters. When it does not make sense to have this option, it is omitted. The Radial Gradient tool is not available in the following tools: Detail Brush, Dodge and Burn, Resize, Lens Distortion Correction, Perspective Correction, Crop, Rotate, Drawing Tools, Vignette, Borders, Watermark, Text, Repair Tool, Red Eye Reduction, and Selections.