Making the Best use of Gradient in Photoshop
Overview :
The object of this tutorial is to make the best possible use of the Gradient effect in different manners. I have used only FIVE techniques of using gradient to blend with images. Using this basic 5 methods, one can create extraordinary effects. Firts, open a new document of width = 800 px and height = 500 px. Continue the following using one new document for each example. Do not try all the five examples in the same document.
A._) Gradient applied to the Baby image :
STEP 1 : Open an image of a baby. Use the MAGNETIC LASSO Tool and draw around the baby face only. Once you have a closed selection, go to Edit menu > Copy or CTRL + C to make a copy of the selection. Come to the new document that you created and use Edit menu > Paste or CTRL + V to paste the baby face. Now create another copy of the baby face layer, by selecting the layer containing the baby face and use CTRL + J. Name this layer containing duplicate copy of baby face as = THRESHOLD. Hide the original copy and keep it as reference for future.
STEP 2 : Select the THRESHOLD layer and go to IMAGE MENU > ADJUSTMENTS > THRESHOLD and set the threshold level to = 120. Now create another copy of this threshold layer, by selecting the layer and use CTRL + J. Hide the original threshold layer for reference. Re name the duplicate layer now as = Threshold image. Now right clickthe Threshold Image layer and select the option = Blending options or go to Layer meny > Layer style > Blending options. Under that dialog box, Under the Blending options : Custom section, there will be something called, Blend if = Grey. Under that you will have two color lines. One is marked by = This layer and the other is marked by Underlying layer. In the 'Underlying layer section, go to the side containing white shade and press ALT + click the triangle icon and drag towards the left (that is towards the black shade). Drag this in such a way that you have a value of 252 / 255. Once this is set, you will see that the baby image is lightened.
STEP 3 : Create a new layer and place this layer BELOW the Threshold Image layer. Name this layer as = BACKGROUND. Fill this layer with color = # 8dbfb5 ( Blue shade ) using ALT + Backspace. First set the desired color in the color box and then fill the layer with foreground color blue.
STEP 4 : Now create another layer and place it ABOVE the Threshold Image layer. Name this layer as = GRADIENT. Now select the Gradient tool in the tools box, and select the default available gradient called = Spectrum. Set the style of gradient to = Linear and the gradient mode as Normal in the sub options that appear above for Gradient tool. Now once the adjustments are set, click at the beginning of the image and then click again at the end of the image. Refer the image included to understand where to click. This is very important as the clicking procedure is what makes a difference to the image effect. Once clicked, gradient is applied in a linear form and it hides the baby face. So the next step is the most important one as that is what blends the gradient to the baby face. In the layers box, select the Gradient layer where you filled the layer with gradient and set the Blend mode of this layer as = SCREEN. Now you will see that the gradient is beautifully blended to the baby image.
B._) Gradient applied to an image of a Man :
STEP 1 : Open an image of a man. Use the MAGNETIC LASSO Tool and draw around the man if the man's picture included other background. Draw in such a way that the whloe body is fitted. Once you have a closed selection, use CTRL + C to make a copy of the selection. Come to the new document that you created and use CTRL + V to paste the man's picture. Now create another copy of the layer containing the picture of the man, by selecting the layer and using CTRL + J. Name this layer containing duplicate copy as = THRESHOLD. Hide the original copy and keep it as reference for future. 
STEP 2 : Select the THRESHOLD layer and go to IMAGE MENU > ADJUSTMENTS > THRESHOLD and set the threshold level to = 35. How would you decide the threshold level ? The answer for that is, that it depends on the image and the effect you are going to apply for the image. In the above baby image, you are setting the threshold value in such a way that you have a lot of white color than the black color. The gradient used in the above example blends well with white color image. Even in this example, set the threshold in such a way that you have lot of white color and less of black color. Now create another copy of this threshold layer, by selecting the layer and use CTRL + J. Hide the original threshold layer for reference. Re name the duplicate layer now as = Threshold image.
STEP 3 : There is no particular background for this so we will continue with the gradient. Now create another layer and place it ABOVE the Threshold Image layer. Name this layer as = GRADIENT. Now select the Gradient tool in the tools box, and select the default available gradient called = Spectrum. Set the style of gradient to = Linear and the gradient mode as Normal in the sub options that appear above for Gradient tool. Now once the adjustments are set, click at the beginning of the image but not on the image but on the work area and then click again at the end of the image and again not on the image but at a little distance from the image on the work area. Refer the image included to understand where to click. Clicking in different positions give different effects. Once clicked, gradient is applied in a linear form. The next step is the most important one as that is what blends the gradient to the image of the man. In the layers box, select the Gradient layer where you filled the layer with gradient and set the Blend mode of this layer as = LIGHTEN. Now you will see that the gradient is blended with black areas of the threshold image.
C._) Gradient Applied to Harry Potter image :
STEP 1 : Open an image of Harry Potter. No need to use the Magnetic lasso tool for the wallpaper i used. We will apply the gradient on the whole image. Drag the image into the new document. Create another copy of this image layer using CTRL + J and keep the original for reference. Name the duplicate copy as = FILTER. Keeping the foreground color as Brown shade and Background color as White in the color box in Tools section, go to FILTER > FILTER GALLERY > SKETCH > PHOTOCOPY and set the Detail to = 7 and Darkness to = 8. Setting these colors in color box before using the Filter gallery is very important. There is no need to use Threshold option as the photocopy effect gives the desired results.
STEP 2 : Go to LAYER MENU > NEW ADJUSTMENT LAYER > HUE AND SATURATION and set Hue level to = 180 and Saturation to = 80. Name this layer as Hue 1.The blend mode of this layer is = Normal. Now create another HUE AND SATURATION adjustment layer and set the same values as above, that is Hue level = 180 and Saturation = 80. Name this layer as Hue 2. Set the Blend mode of this layer in Layers box = LINEAR BURN. See that the Hue 2 layer is positioned over Hue 1 layer and both the Hue layers are above the Filter layer containing the images.
STEP 3 : Now create a new layer and place it ABOVE the Hue 2 layer. Name this layer as = GRADIENT 1. Now select the Gradient tool in the tools box, and select the default available gradient called = Spectrum. Set the style of gradient to = Linear and the gradient mode as Normal in the sub options that appear above for Gradient tool. Now once the adjustments are set, click at the top right corner of the image and then click again at the bottom left corner of the image to get a Diagonal gradient style. Refer the first section of the image included to understand where to click. The next step is the most important one as that is what blends the gradient to the image of the man. In the layers box, select the Gradient 1 layer where you filled the layer with gradient and set the Blend mode of this layer as = COLOR BURN. Now you will see that the gradient is blended with black strokes of the photocopy styled image.
STEP 4 : Now create a new layer again and place it ABOVE the Gradient 1 layer. Name this layer as = GRADIENT 2. Now select the Gradient tool in the tools box, and select the gradient = Spectrum again. Set the style of gradient to = Linear and the gradient mode as Normal in the sub options for Gradient tool. Now once the adjustments are set, click at the top left corner of the image and then click again at the bottom right corner of the image to get a Diagonal gradient style. Refer the second section of the image included to understand where to click. In the layers box, select the Gradient 2 layer and set the Blend mode of this layer as = COLOR. Now you will see that the gradient is blended with the previous Gradient 1layer.
D._) Gradient applied to an image of Spider Man :
STEP 1 : Create a new layer and fill this layer with # e11a3b ( Pink shade) using ALT + Backspace. Set the color in the color box before using the fill option. Name this layer as = Background. The Blend mode of this layer is = Normal. Changing the color for the background, gives different effects after applying the gradient.
STEP 2 : Create a new layer Open an image of Spider man. Use the MAGNETIC LASSO Tool and draw around the spider man figure if the wallpaper comes with extra background. Once you have a closed selection, go to Edit menu > Copy or CTRL + C to make a copy of the selection. Now select the layer that you created and use Edit menu > Paste or CTRL + V to paste the spider man image. Now create another copy of the image, by selecting the layer containing the baby face and use CTRL + J. Name this layer containing duplicate copy of spider man as = THRESHOLD. Hide the original copy and keep it as reference for future. 
STEP 3 : Select the THRESHOLD layer and go to IMAGE MENU > ADJUSTMENTS > THRESHOLD and set the threshold level to = 75. Now create another copy of this threshold layer, by selecting the layer and use CTRL + J. Hide the original threshold layer for reference. Re name the duplicate layer now as = Threshold image. Note : The threshold amount depends on the image created as mentioned in the above few examples.
STEP 4 : Create a new layer and name it = GRADIENT 1. Now select the Gradient tool in the tools box, and select the default available gradient called = Yellow, Violet, Orange, Blue and set the style of gradient to = Linear and the gradient mode as Normal for Gradient tool. Now, click at the Top of the image and then click again at the Bottom of the image in a vertical order. Refer the image included to understand where to click. Once clicked, gradient is applied in a linear form. Depending on where you click, the gradient style changes.In the layers box, select the Gradient layer where you filled the layer with gradient and set the Blend mode of this layer as = HARD LIGHT. With this you will have a colorful horizontal gradient. But, stopping here, the gradient is not properly blended with the image. So let us create another gradient.
STEP 5 : Create a new layer and name it = GRADIENT 2. Now select the Gradient tool in the tools box, and select the gradient called = Spectrum and set the style of gradient to = Linear and the gradient mode as Normal for Gradient tool. Now, click at the beginning of the image and then click again at the end of the image. Refer the image included to understand where to click. Once clicked, gradient is applied in a vertical form. In the layers box, select the Gradient 2 layer where you filled the layer with gradient and set the Blend mode of this layer as = COLOR. Now you will have a gradient blended with Gradient 1.
E._) Gradient applied to an image of a Lady :
STEP 1 : Create a new layer and fill this layer with # a17ca7 ( Purple shade) using ALT + Backspace. Set the color in the color box before using the fill option. Name this layer as = Background. The Blend mode of this layer is = Normal. We are going to use both the Gradient tool and layer's blending options. > Gradient overlay for this example to apply the gradient to two copies of Lady images.
STEP 2 : Open an image of a lady. In that image itself use the MAGNETIC LASSO Tool and draw around the lady. Once you have a closed selection, use CTRL + C to make a copy of the selection.Come back to the current document we were working in and create anew layer and name it = Lady 1. Selecting the layer, use CTRL + V to paste the lady image. Create another copy and name it as =Lady 2. We will deal with Lady 2 layer later. First set the adjustments for Lady 1 layer. Select the Lady 1 layer and go to IMAGE MENU > ADJUSTMENTS > THRESHOLD and set the threshold level to = 175.
STEP 3 : Create a new layer and name it = GRADIENT 1. Now select the Gradient tool in the tools box, and select the gradient called = Dark Spectrum and set the style of gradient to = Linear and the gradient mode as Normal for Gradient tool. Now, click at the top left corner of image and then at bottom right corner. Refer the layers image included to see how the gradient is diagonally placed. In the layers box, select the Gradient 1 layer and set the Blend mode of this layer as = SCREEN. Now you will have a gradient blended with the lady image.
STEP 4 : Create a new layer and name it = GRADIENT 2. Now select the Gradient tool in the tools box, and select the gradient called = Dark Spectrum and set the style of gradient to = Linear and the gradient mode as Normal for Gradient tool. Now, click at the top left corner of image and then at bottom right corner. The gradient is diagonally placed in a vertical distance. In the layers box, select the Gradient 2 layer and set the Blend mode of this layer as = Normal. See that the Gradient 2 layer is placed over Gradient 1 layer which is placed over Lady 1 layer.
STEP 5 : Move the Lady 2 layer and place it below Lady 1 layer. Use the Transform tool or CTRL + T to reduce the size of the lady 2 image so that it will liik like being placed behind the Lady 1 image. Select the Lady 2 layer and go to IMAGE MENU > ADJUSTMENTS > THRESHOLD and set the threshold level to = 128. Right click the Lady 2 layer and select Blending options or go to Layer menu > Layer style > Blending options and select the Gradient overlay option.
Gradient Overlay settings > Set the Blend mode to = ' MULTIPLY ' with opacity as 100% and style used as = DIAMOND with angle = 90% and scaled to 100 %.The Gradient style used is a newly created Bi-color gradient of Yellow shade that is # ffff33 and Pink shade that is # ff76fe, equally distributed. Select the Reverse option if necessary. Set the Blend mode of this layer in the layer box as = LUMINOSITY. See that the layers are arranged as following :
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