Gradient Tool - Mode Difference

With no doubt Gradient tool is very powerful. If you have a lot of free time to play inside Photoshop and to figure it out how this tool works in Difference mode then I am hoping this tutorial will help you create some of interesting effects that could be applied on your projects.

To configure gradient tool for producing these effects is easy. Just select your gradient tool, pick Linear Gradient and under Mode choose Difference. Also, if you like, you can pick different foreground and background colors. For example, blue and yellow.

When creating these effects you are actually drawing “lines” with gradient tool in many directions. In examples I provided below you will see arrows with numbers. Arrows will point you to direction and position in document you should use to “draw lines”. Numbers are steps.

It’s very important to pay attention on “line” length. Also, keeping Shift pressed while drawing “lines” will help you a lot.
When you are satisfied with an effect I suggest you to change the way it looks by checking colorize in Hue/Saturation. Play with Hue, Saturation and Lightness. Adjust levels by adding new adjustment layer above the layer with effect. Crop unwanted areas.

When using this tool for the first time in difference mode you will get unexpected results. But with some practice you will find that everything could be predicted. Everything is like a game you play with Photoshop.

In the first example just follow arrows and numbers. Create new document: background color: Blue, Image Size 320x320px. Foreground/Background colors: blue and white. Keep line length between 8-10 pixels. Use rulers with guides if you have trouble to decide how mush is 10 pixels. On this image Hue/Saturation was applied with Colorize checked.

In second example I used black and white foreground/background colors and white image background. First. apply gradient from top left corner to bottom right corner of the image. Then follow steps presented on the image below. Line length 8-10 pixels. When you are done with these steps apply gradient again from top left to bottom right corner of the image. You will get similar effect I used to create an image at the top of this tutorial. I removed some parts using Elliptical Marquee Tool, moved selection on separate layer, and then applied drop shadow. Then I filled layer below circle layer with white and applied reflected gradient (4 “lines”) on it.
Try to change your background/foreground colors to white and black. Then, follow steps described above. You will get new effect.

In third example (creatures) change foreground/background colors to blue and white. Fill your document with blue and change gradient tool to Radial (second from the left in tool menu). For “bubbles, balls” draw one “line” 50 pixels in length and then another inside with 20-30 pixels in length. For smaller “bubbles” imagine you have a curved path and then try to follow it by drawing small “lines” with 10 pixels in length. Don’t pay attention on image below. The image is desaturated and with Levels changed. You will get colored image.

As final recommendation try to experiment as much as possible. Include reflected gradient (second from the right in tool menu), change colors, use Photoshop built in color gradients and do some work on tonal adjustments. This mode really brings difference.