On your image, click and drag where you would like the graduated filter to be placed.ħ. Click on the Effect drop down menu to reveal filter options that will help you get started, or select Custom and use the sliders to create your desired filter.Ħ. Click the Graduated Filter button-a rectangle icon in the right side panel.ĥ. Change anything from the color temperature to contrast, highlights, or clarity by using the sliders in the “Basic” panel.Ĥ. Color correct your image using the global settings. This will generate a new copy to work from, leaving the original for easy comparison.Ģ. Before you make any changes, in the Library module of Lightroom, right-click on your image, then click on Create Virtual Copy. How to Apply a Graduated Filter to Your Imagesġ. As Wallace describes, using the graduated filter option in Lightroom is one quick tool to help add vibrancy and depth to washed-out images. He layers on a second horizontal filter to add intensity and detail to the sky and water. Wallace adds a 1-stop under exposed vertical filter to compensate for the left side of the image being over exposed. The original image, shot in bright sun with a Canon EF 16-35mm wide angle zoom lens, has unbalanced exposure and dull colors. In this video tutorial, Mark Wallace demonstrates how to use graduated filters in Lightroom to give new life to bland images: But sometimes we must shoot in less than desirable lighting situations, and in turn, we may end up with a handful of mediocre images. We could all stand to shoot more during the “golden hour”-that splendid wash of yellow and dramatic light created at sun up and sun down.

Lightroom 4 graduated filter tutorial