{"id":3318,"date":"2023-02-03T17:00:44","date_gmt":"2023-02-04T00:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/?page_id=3318"},"modified":"2023-02-03T17:00:44","modified_gmt":"2023-02-04T00:00:44","slug":"adding-colour-and-gradient-overlays-to-layers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/palette.ecuad.ca\/mrose\/resources\/digital-animation-methods-and-software\/after-effects\/adding-colour-and-gradient-overlays-to-layers\/","title":{"rendered":"Adding Colour and Gradient Overlays to Layers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When working with layers in After Effects, like with an image sequence or movie file with animation you have created as of drawings on paper, or monochromatic imagery, like black-on-white, you can simply add colour or a gradient, and other kinds of immediate changes, by way of layer modifications.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>These are different from effects. They are quick, basic adjustments to a layer. A list of examples covered in this page and links to information in related ones are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Colour overlay<\/li>\n<li>Gradient overlay<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Links to additional information and complementary steps are here:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/resources\/digital-animation-methods-and-software\/after-effects\/to-make-a-solid-layer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Solid layers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/resources\/digital-animation-methods-and-software\/after-effects\/making-transformations-to-layers-flipping-orientation-timing-changes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Flipping orientation, both horizontally and vertically<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/resources\/digital-animation-methods-and-software\/after-effects\/making-transformations-to-layers-flipping-orientation-timing-changes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Time stretch<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/resources\/digital-animation-methods-and-software\/after-effects\/making-transformations-to-layers-flipping-orientation-timing-changes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reverse layer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/resources\/digital-animation-methods-and-software\/after-effects\/making-transformations-to-layers-flipping-orientation-timing-changes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Freeze frame<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/resources\/digital-animation-methods-and-software\/after-effects\/making-transformations-to-layers-flipping-orientation-timing-changes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Freeze frame on a last frame<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>Layer category<\/b><\/h5>\n<p>In After Effects, as part of the Main Menu items, there is a Layer menu. To get there, go to the Main Menu &gt; Layer. You will find numerous adjustments that you will be able to apply to a given layer.<\/p>\n<h5><b>First of all<\/b><\/h5>\n<p>To make an adjustment to a layer, be sure to click on it, so that it is selected and active.<\/p>\n<h5><b>Colour Overlay<\/b><\/h5>\n<p>This is useful if you would like to change the colour of line drawings or monochromatic animation.<\/p>\n<p>The modification here is not a way to key out areas to make them transparent. Those kinds of Colour Key steps are linked <a href=\"demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/resources\/digital-animation-methods-and-software\/after-effects\/colour-key\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a>. Instead, this technique is to add a colour overlay in an opaque area.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/resources\/digital-animation-methods-and-software\/after-effects\/colour-key\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Colour key, to make regions transparent<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Once you have selected a given layer in the Timeline, go to Main Menu &gt; Layer &gt; Layer Styles &gt; Colour Overlay.<\/p>\n<p>The Layer Styles will appear in the properties of the layer, in the Source Name column, along with the default Transform options.<\/p>\n<p>Referring to the layer properties (that is, by clicking the expand\/collapse switch left of the Source Name), twirl open the layer, to reveal Layer Styles, and expand Colour Overlay too. You will then find:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Blend Mode<\/li>\n<li>Colour<\/li>\n<li>Opacity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>Colour Overlay &gt; Colour<\/b><\/h5>\n<p>In the right-hand region of the properties is a colour swatch. The default is red. The Colour Overlay option will initially make the layer a red colour too. This is only temporary.<\/p>\n<p>To change the colour, click the colour swatch, which will open a colour selector. From there, you can choose one, or make changes to the lists of HSB (Hue, Saturation, Brightness) or RGB values (Red, Green,Blue). With the colour picker option, or eye dropper switch, you can click and drag to a specific spot with a colour in the artwork in the Composition Window.<\/p>\n<h5><b>Colour Overlay &gt; Opacity<\/b><\/h5>\n<p>This particular option will affect the opacity of the colours; that is, if you adjust the value from 100%, the overlay colour will not be opaque, translucent instead. You will see through the colour to the image below.<\/p>\n<p>Both the Colour and Opacity have time-vary options. They can be key-framed for animated change over time.<\/p>\n<h5><b>Colour Overlay &gt; Blend Mode<\/b><\/h5>\n<p>Here, you can utilize the pull-down menu to select a transfer mode. Useful ones for this purpose are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Screen, which will remove black from the layer. In other words, if the imagery is black, like a black line, it takes on the overlay colour and the light tone remains.<\/li>\n<li>Multiply, which will remove white from the layer. In other words, the overlay covers the light tones in the imagery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Opacity features in this area are for the Colour Overlay itself. However, you can also utilize similar adjustments to the layer itself, in the Transform properties. That would affect everything in the layer, more than the Colour Overlay.<\/p>\n<h5><b>Gradient Overlay<\/b><\/h5>\n<p>Similar to the Colour Overlay, with this adjustment you can change the colour of line drawings or monochromatic animation, but with a gradient, such as one tone to another, or between two or more colours.<\/p>\n<p>The Gradient Overlay is a good choice if you want to make a sky as a background, or a large area of landscape. You can add such an overlay to a \u201csolid.\u201d Notes on how to add a solid layer are <a href=\"demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/resources\/digital-animation-methods-and-software\/after-effects\/to-make-a-solid-layer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/resources\/digital-animation-methods-and-software\/after-effects\/to-make-a-solid-layer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Solid layers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Once you have selected a layer in the Timeline, go to Main Menu &gt; Layer &gt; Layer Styles &gt; Gradient Overlay.<\/p>\n<p>In the Gradient Overlay properties are the following features.<\/p>\n<h5><b>Gradient Overlay &gt; Colours<\/b><\/h5>\n<p>Here, click on Edit Gradient (blue text, to the right) to open the Gradient Editor.<\/p>\n<p>You will find a slider with &#8220;stops&#8221; or markers at both the left- and right-ends of a scale. The stops at the top-edge of the scale are for Opacity. The stops at the bottom-edge of the scale are for Colour.<\/p>\n<p>You can also click anywhere on the scale to add more stops, in between.<\/p>\n<p>Between two stops is a \u201ccolour mid-point.\u201d Click and drag it to modify the intensity of the gradient; for example, a full colour with a steep or gentle gradation to the next.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Colour stops<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Referring to the stop at the left, click on it to activate the colour selector, and choose one. Considering the stop at the right, again, click on it to activate the selector, and choose another colour.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Opacity stops<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Click on it to activate the option, and then adjust the Opacity; for example, here, you might want to keep the opacity at 100% but at the next stop, choose another, say 60%.<\/p>\n<h5><b>Gradient Overlay &gt; Opacity<\/b><\/h5>\n<p>Similar to the Colour Overlay, with this particular option, you can affect the opacity of the gradient field; that is, if you adjust the value from 100%, the region will not be opaque; translucent instead. You will see through the mixture to the image below.<\/p>\n<p>Both the Colour and Opacity have time-vary options. They can be key-framed for animated change over time.<\/p>\n<h5><b>Gradient Overlay &gt; Angle<\/b><\/h5>\n<p>Here, you will be able to shift the direction of the gradient; for instance, if the Edit Gradient slider starts as yellow on the left to green on the right, you can rotate the angle so yellow is at the top of a region of the layer and green is at the lower part.<\/p>\n<h5><b>Gradient Overlay &gt; Style<\/b><\/h5>\n<p>You can choose from:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Linear, from one edge to the next<\/li>\n<li>Radial, from a centre point, blending outwards in a radial direction<\/li>\n<li>Angle<\/li>\n<li>Reflected<\/li>\n<li>Diamond<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>Gradient Overlay, additional options<\/b><\/h5>\n<p>If you click &#8220;Reverse&#8221; the gradient option will inverse.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlign with Layer\u201d will anchor the gradient to the dimensions of the layer.<\/p>\n<p>With \u201cScale,\u201d you will be able to reduce the dimensions of the gradient, towards 0%, and increase to 150%.<\/p>\n<p>Choosing&#8221; Offset,&#8221; there are two values to consider [0. 0, 0.0]. They represent:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Left value is the \u201c\u00d7-axis\u201d or horizontal shift<\/li>\n<li>Right value is the \u201cy-axis\u201d or vertical shift<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As a result, by making changes, you can move the centre of the gradient, even beyond the artwork, for subtle refinement.<\/p>\n<h5><b>Links to<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/resources\/digital-animation-methods-and-software\/after-effects\/to-make-a-solid-layer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">To make a solid layer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/resources\/digital-animation-methods-and-software\/after-effects\/making-transformations-to-layers-flipping-orientation-timing-changes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Making transformations to layers, such as flipping orientation and timing changes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h6>Back to<\/h6>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/resources\/digital-animation-methods-and-software\/after-effects\/adding-colour-and-gradient-overlays-to-layers\/\">Top of the Page<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/resources\/digital-animation-methods-and-software\/after-effects\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">After Effects Notes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/resources\/digital-animation-methods-and-software\/\">Digital Animation Methods &amp; Software<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/resources\/\">Resources Page<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"demoblogs.ecuad.camrose\/\">Main Page<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When working with layers in After Effects, like with an image sequence or movie file with animation you have created as of drawings on paper, or monochromatic imagery, like black-on-white, you can simply add colour or a gradient, and other kinds of immediate changes, by way of layer modifications.\u00a0 These are different from effects. They [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":777,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3318","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/palette.ecuad.ca\/mrose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3318","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/palette.ecuad.ca\/mrose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/palette.ecuad.ca\/mrose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/palette.ecuad.ca\/mrose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/palette.ecuad.ca\/mrose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3318"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/palette.ecuad.ca\/mrose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3318\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/palette.ecuad.ca\/mrose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/palette.ecuad.ca\/mrose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}