If you’re working with Macphun’s Luminar be sure to try out the Adjustable Gradient filter.  It’s the perfect companion to any landscape picture as it allows you to easily adjust two different parts of a photo.    For example, you can selectively adjust exposure, contrast, vibrance and warmth for the sky and the landscape separately.  This filter should be part of just about every landscape workspace but can be used in other ways too.

Using the Adjustable Gradient

Step 1: Open an image you want to edit.

Step 2: Click the Add Filter (+) button and choose the Adjustable Gradient effect.

Step 3: Adjust the Exposure, Contrast, Vibrance and Warmth for the top of the image.

  • Exposure –  Adjusts the luminance of the image. Moving a slider to the left results in a darker image (reduction of exposure value). Moving this slider to the right results in a brighter image ( an increase of exposure value). You can adjust the relative exposure for both the top and bottom of the image independently to refine an image.
  • Contrast – Separate contrast controls allow you to modify the amount of contrast at the top and bottom of the image.  Contrast is the difference in luminance or color that makes an object in an image distinguishable from another. Practically speaking, contrast is determined by the difference in the color and brightness of an object in relation to other objects within the same field of view.
  • Vibrance. This slider is a “Smart Saturation” control. In general, its effect is similar to Saturation with the difference that it increases less vibrant colors stronger and has a weaker effect on more vibrant colors. This allows you to get more realistic and less saturated colors the picture. This slider can be used in conjunction with the Saturation to enhance the secondary colors.
  • Warmth. This slider affects how warm or cool an image appears.  A positive value adds warmth while a negative value cools the image.

Step 4: Adjust the same properties for the bottom of the image.

Step 5: Set the Blend slider to zero. The Blend control affects how smooth or a transition there is between the top and bottom adjustment.  A higher value creates a soft transition while a lower value is more abrupt. This will help position the horizon line.

Step 6: Adjust the Shift and Rotation controls to line up the horizon line.  The shift option moves the transition point between adjustments.  By default, it is centered top-to-bottom, but this can be raised or lowered in the frame. If your image is angled (or your scene has strong geometric composition) you can rotate the angle of the blending.  You’ll find controls to rotate + or – 90.

Step 7: Set the Blend slider to a higher value to create a gentle transition between the top and bottom adjustment.

Step 8: Refine the others sliders as needed.

Try Luminar Today

If you’re a Mac-user who hasn’t tried Luminar, give it a free try today.  To read our thoughts on Luminar, check out our detailed review.

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