Lightroom Graduated Filter Tutorial - Lightroom CC / 6 Tutorial

The Graduated Filter is one of the most useful tools in Lightroom for making targeted adjustments. Normally when you move sliders in the Develop module, the changes apply to the entire image. But with the Graduated Filter, you can apply adjustments to just one area of the photo with a smooth, gradual transition. This is perfect for darkening a sky without affecting the ground, warming up a foreground without changing the background, or adding contrast to just one section of the frame.

Today we go over how to use the Graduated Filter in Lightroom.

How to Use the Graduated Filter

Applying the Filter

1. Open your image in the Develop module.
2. Click the Graduated Filter icon in the toolbar below the Histogram. It looks like a rectangle with a gradient. You can also press M on the keyboard to activate it.
3. A panel of adjustment sliders will appear. These are the adjustments the filter will apply: Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, Shadows, Clarity, Saturation, Color, and more.
4. Click and drag on the image in the direction you want the gradient to go. The point where you click is where the effect is at full strength. The point where you release is where the effect fades to zero.
5. Three lines will appear on the image. The area between the outer lines is the transition zone where the effect gradually fades.
6. Adjust the sliders to create the look you want. Changes appear in real time.
7. Press Enter to confirm the filter when you are happy with it.

Controlling the Transition

• Wide gradient (lines far apart): Creates a smooth, subtle transition. Good for landscapes where you want a natural sky-to-ground blend.
• Narrow gradient (lines close together): Creates a harder, more defined edge. Good for architectural shots or when you want a clear division.
• Rotate the filter by hovering near the center line until you see the rotation cursor, then drag. This lets you angle the filter to match the natural lines in your image, like a tilted horizon.

Verifying Coverage

8. Check the Show Selected Mask Overlay box at the bottom of the image. This highlights the affected area in red so you can see exactly where the filter is applied.

Applying Multiple Filters

You can stack several graduated filters on the same image. Check out how to use graduated filters to apply multiple filters for a detailed walkthrough on this technique.

Erasing Parts of a Filter

If the graduated filter affects an area you want to protect:

1. Select the filter by clicking its dot on the image.
2. In the filter panel, click Brush.
3. Scroll down and click Erase.
4. Paint over the areas you want to remove from the filter’s effect. This is useful when a graduated filter on the sky also darkens a tree or building that sticks up above the horizon.

Common Uses

• Darken a bright sky. Pull Exposure down and add a slight blue tint. This is the most common use of the graduated filter.
• Brighten a dark foreground. Push Exposure up and add warmth to the temperature.
• Add drama to clouds. Increase Clarity and Contrast on the sky for more defined, textured clouds.
• Warm or cool one half of the image. Use the Temperature slider to add warmth to the foreground and keep the background cool, or vice versa.

Tips

• Apply basic corrections first. Get your overall exposure and white balance close before using the graduated filter. This way, the graduated adjustments are refinements rather than corrections.
• Use the brush tool for more precise, non-linear adjustments. The graduated filter works in straight lines. The brush tool lets you paint adjustments onto irregular shapes.
• Press H to hide the filter overlay while adjusting. The lines and dots can be distracting when you are trying to judge the effect.
• Delete a filter by selecting its dot and pressing the Delete key.

That is how you use the Graduated Filter in Lightroom. It is an essential tool for controlling light, color, and contrast in specific areas of your photos without affecting the rest of the image.