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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> How to create banding on purpose
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Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 03/04/2012 06:59:12 PM · #1
I have a gradient mask and I want to make it more "stair-steppy." As in, I want to introduce banding or more jagged transitions as it goes from black to white. I want to have less shades of gray, ideally about 3 to 5 transitions from black to white.

Does any body know how this might be done?

I tried running the Posterize adjustment, but it doesn't do anything. I tried creating my own step gradient, but I can't paint it in to fit the mask I need.
Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount
03/04/2012 07:32:30 PM · #2
link

:)

actually it didn't turn up many results..

have you tried changing the color depth to 8 bit?

Message edited by author 2012-03-04 19:34:51.
Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)
 03/04/2012 08:02:20 PM · #3
I'm using Photoshop (old): I took a RGB file and made an adjustment layer, then made a gradient mask for it.

In the Channels palette I went to the mask and selected it as active, then went to Image > Adjustments > Posterize and set the levels to 4, and got four "beautiful" bands in the mask, through which the effect is applied to the image.

Note that the Posterize effect should ONLY apply to the mask -- if you get banding int he image itself you have the wrong Channel selected.

If you don't get banding then maybe you have too many levels selected in the Posterize adjustment.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 03/04/2012 08:02:56 PM · #4
I looked a lot on google before I asked here. Unfortunately, google mostly returns results that help get rid of banding.

It's a composition with lots of other text and graphics, so I can't reduce bit depth unless I did that inside of a smart object. Even still, it's already 8 bit.

I ended up making it work by using vector masks set to various opacities. I turned it into an "effect," and it looks pretty decent.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 03/04/2012 08:05:21 PM · #5
Originally posted by GeneralE:
I'm using Photoshop (old): I took a RGB file and made an adjustment layer, then made a gradient mask for it.

In the Channels palette I went to the mask and selected it as active, then went to Image > Adjustments > Posterize and set the levels to 4, and got four "beautiful" bands in the mask, through which the effect is applied to the image.

Note that the Posterize effect should ONLY apply to the mask -- if you get banding int he image itself you have the wrong Channel selected.

If you don't get banding then maybe you have too many levels selected in the Posterize adjustment.


When I applied it through the Channels palette it worked. Thanks GeneralE!!
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