Skip to main content

⚠️ Please note that this topic or post has been archived. The information contained here may no longer be accurate or up-to-date. ⚠️

"Double-sided" linear gradient mask

FirstName LastName

Hi, is there a way to create a gradient mask where the densest/darkest part is in an arbitrary position in the middle of the whole gradient instead of the edge?

I'm thinking the workaround is to create two gradient masks, rasterize them and then adjust their positions in the picture, but I was hoping there was a built-in and easier way.

1

Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • gb
    • Edited

    Nothing built in I think.
    What about a super sized mask brush (bigger than the image), with maximum softness?
    Shift + click to auto draw in a straight line.
    Start and finish with the center of the brush at the edge of the image.

    0
  • SFA
    • Edited

    The usual way to do that, if I have ready your requirement correctly, would be to Invert the mask. The tool contains the facility to do that.

    0
  • FirstName LastName 
    Shift + click to auto draw in a straight line.
    Start and finish with the center of the brush at the edge of the image.

    Not quite enough -- you can't really control the density of the mask this way (other than setting "hardness" values which is limited).  I'd paint it myself with a brush if only the density would respond to pen pressure, which is how brushes behave in most painting software I use.  I wonder if there's an option to just import a mask from a file.

    The usual way to do that, if I have ready your requirement correctly, would be to Invert the mask. The tool contains the facility to do that.

    What I'm looking for is double-sided -- so that the gradient has two sides light but dark in the middle -- similar to those you get from reverse graduated neutral density filters.

    0
  • gb
    • Edited

    If you could accept a slight amount of curvature you might try the radial mask.
    Drag it out to the biggest elliptical shape you can.
    Move the mask center well off screen so you can keep dragging the edge out
    to the point where the top and bottom approach being parallel then move the center of the mask back to the center of the image and invert it.
    ??

    0
  • SFA
    • Edited

    gb's reply is what I was thinking of previously but omitted to mention the adjusted radial mask option.

    You might also be able to achieve the result you want in a couple of other ways with what is available currently, but not with quite the level of default tool applied control I think you would prefer based on your comments.

    0
  • FirstName LastName 
    If you could accept a slight amount of curvature you might try the radial mask.

    gb's reply is what I was thinking of previously but omitted to mention the adjusted radial mask option.

     

    It's what I do now actually, until I figured to ask if there was a way that I just didn't know about.  Have to say as great as this software is, Capture One's masking ability is quite primitive -- speaking primarily as an illustrator/artist who has been using computer painting and photo-editing software since the early 90's.  I should probably head on over to a feature request topic.  Thanks everyone who answered!

    1
  • gb

    Might add my voice to that feature request.
    You would think it would be pretty easy for C1
    to tweak the radial mask into a proper linear graduated center mask.

    0

Post is closed for comments.