{"id":56927,"date":"2023-07-26T15:22:41","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T22:22:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/photoshopcafe.com\/?p=56927"},"modified":"2023-07-26T15:22:41","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T22:22:41","slug":"how-to-create-a-realistic-rainbow-in-photoshop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/photoshopcafe.com\/how-to-create-a-realistic-rainbow-in-photoshop\/","title":{"rendered":"How to create a realistic rainbow in Photoshop"},"content":{"rendered":"

Easily make a rainbow in Photoshop with new Gradient tool<\/h1>\n

The new gradient tool makes it really easy to do things that were difficult before. I figured a rainbow is a good way to explore these features and I have a few tips to throw in too.<\/p>\n

Adding more hidden gradients<\/h2>\n

We will be using Legacy gradients. These are additional Libraries that are in Photoshop but hidden. Lets load them now.<\/p>\n

Choose Window>Gradients to open the Gradients panel.<\/p>\n

Choose the top Right menu and select Legacy Gradients. <\/em>This will load the gradients.<\/p>\n

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Making the Rainbow<\/h2>\n

First of all, select the Gradient tool and choose radial.<\/p>\n

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Drag on your image to create a circle.<\/p>\n

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Click the arrow by the Gradients to choose a new gradient.<\/p>\n

Go under Legacy and select the spectrum preset.<\/p>\n

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You will see colored concentric circles.<\/p>\n

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Choose the Properties panel and drag the colors closer together on the left side of the Slider.<\/p>\n

We want to make then even closer, but notice how bunched up they stops are. We need more space to work.<\/p>\n

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Grab the tab of the Properties panel and tear it off.<\/p>\n

Drag out the panel until it stretches the bars. Look at that! Way better.<\/p>\n

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You will see a transparency bar.<\/p>\n

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Drag the points sway from the bar to remove them.<\/p>\n

Get rid of all of them except the 2 end white ones and the 2 black ones on the left<\/p>\n

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Drag the Right-white slider to the left. As you slide it, notice in expands a transparent area over the center.<\/p>\n

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Remove the gray slider, so we just have 2 white ones and a black on in between.<\/p>\n

Adjust until you have a narrow band around the circle’s edge<\/p>\n

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Move the colored sliders until you are happy with the spacing.<\/p>\n

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Dock the properties panel.<\/p>\n

Adjust the size to resize your rainbow<\/p>\n

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Drag the center point to reposition<\/p>\n

We need to fade the edge into the horizon.<\/p>\n

In the layers panel, Click the layer mask on the gradient layer<\/p>\n

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Choose a black to white linear gradient<\/p>\n

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Click and drag on the end of the rainbow\u00a0 to face the end (no pot of gold here).<\/p>\n

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If you want to make it more subtle, change the Layer blending mode to Screen<\/p>\n

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If you want to soften the rainbow you can add a blur.<\/p>\n

Right-Click on the layer name and choose Convert to Smart Object<\/p>\n

Choose Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur and set the amount that you like<\/p>\n

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I hope you found this tutorial useful. I actually made this a 2 part tutorial on the new Gradient tool. Check out the addition tutorial on creating the floating head effect used on movie posters<\/a><\/p>\n

Drop a comment and let me know if this was helpful.<\/p>\n

Browse the other free photoshop tutorials here at the cafe<\/a><\/p>\n

Download 100s of dollars worth of Photoshop adds on for free here at the Vault.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Also follow me on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>,\u00a0Tik Tik,\u00a0<\/a>Threads and\u00a0Twitter. \u00a0<\/a>for shorts and reels.<\/p>\n

See you next time!<\/p>\n

Colin<\/p>\n

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\r\n\r\nPS Don\u2019t forget to follow us on Social Media for more tips..<\/strong>\r\n