Highlight parts of a photo with radial gradients

In this video, you will learn how to highlight parts of a photo with radial gradients in Lightroom CC.

You can follow along with any photo or you can download the sample file from the Adobe page for this tutorial.

Once you import the sample file into Lightroom CC, you will see it in the Photo Grid.

Double click on it to open it.

In this image, I would like to apply highlights and lighting effects to make the photo more interesting.

We will use a radial gradient to achieve those effects.

The radial gradient is useful for adding color effects to parts of a photo, creating spotlight effects and to add visual interest.

Also, you can use a radial gradient to create a vignette that is not in the middle of the image.

The radial gradient works much like the Brush tool in the linear gradient, except that it applies effects in oval shapes.

Click on the Radial Gradient icon to open the settings.

These are not global adjustments they will only affect the radial gradient that we create.

Also, these are sticky settings, which means that Lightroom CC will remember the previously used settings for this tool, the Brush tool or the linear gradient.

To reset the settings to default, right click on any slider and select Reset All Sliders.

In this example, we will turn on the light bulb and make it seem as if it's emitting more light.

To start, I'll move the Exposures slider over to the right - I'll fine tune it later - then place your cursor in the center of the light bulb and click and drag out.

You can see the oval outline that represents the radial gradient and you can adjust the shape as you're dragging out.

When you release your mouse button, you will see the blue pen that represents the radial gradient and four transformation points that allow you to scale and rotate the gradient.

If you don't see them, press the O key on the keyboard to cycle between different overlays.

If you want to resize the gradient, click on any of the transformation points and drag in and out.

You can also reposition the radial gradient by clicking and dragging on the blue pin.

Once you have placed the gradient directly over the light bulb, you can adjust the settings.

Make sure that the Invert checkbox is unchecked then increase the Exposure to make the light seem brighter.

Move the Temp slider to the right to warm up the light, then bring the Highlights down to not completely blow out the bright areas in the light bulb.

You can now create a second radial gradient that will enhance the lighting of the scene.

But we don't have to start from scratch.

You can duplicate a radial gradient by right clicking on the blue pin and selecting Duplicate.

Then move the duplicate radial gradient down and click and drag on the transformation handles to scale it up.

Now you can fine tune the settings, start by reducing the Exposure but make it brighter than the original settings.

Make the Highlights darker to keep detail in the bright areas of the photo, and then make the Shadows brighter to introduce detail into the shadows.

Duplicate the original gradient once again by right clicking on the pin and selecting Duplicate and move this duplicate to the bottom right of the image to make it seem as if the light is hitting the wall.

Drag the top transformation handle to make it larger, then increase the Exposure and adjust the Feather which controls the sharpness of the edge of the gradient.

In this case, we want the soft edge, so drag to the right.

Next, we will create a radial gradient that affects the entire left side of the image.

But we will create the gradient on the right side.

Click on the center of the light bulb and drag out.

Notice how the adjustments affect the right side of the image.

Reset the adjustments and then check Invert, so that the adjustments affect the outside of their radial gradient.

Then reduce their Exposure to make the outside darker.

Now drag the Temp slider to the left to cool the left side of the image, so that it creates contrast with the warm light on the right side.

To compare your edits with the original image, you can either click on the Show Original icon or press the \ key on the keyboard.

Notice that the label overlay shows you that keyboard shortcut in case you need a reminder.

If you would like to adjust any of your radial gradients, then simply click on any of the pins and adjust the settings.

You can also press the Backspace key on Windows - that's the Delete key in the Mac - to delete the gradient.

I like the gradient, so I'll bring it back by clicking on the Undo button.

You can also undo by pressing Control Z on Windows or Command Z on the Mac.

There is no need to save when you're done, Lightroom CC automatically syncs your adjustments to all your devices and you can edit them at any time.

Now you know how to highlight parts of your photo with radial gradients in Lightroom CC.

Go ahead and give these techniques a try with your own photos.