Create a thank you card using Gradient map

I was just selected as one of two people in my department to stay on at the Deseret News here in Salt Lake. I decided to create a thank you card to send to those who chose me. As part of the creation process I used iWarp in Filters and the gradient map option in the 'colors' file menu.

1-Size
I chose a horizontal aspect ratio for the size. Actual print size is 7.5x3 inches at 300dpi.

2-using iWarp
Paint in a random gray-scale background on the back ground layer. Then Going to Filters>Distorts>iWarp the iWarp dialogue opens. Increase the Deform radius and deform amount to nearly their maximum range. Select the 'shrink' option and begin sucking in at the center of your image. Use this until you get the affect you like. If you make a mistake, use the remove option to undo the distortion you created. Don't like the whole thing click the 'reset' button at the bottom left. When you get a nice effect click 'OK' and you distortion will be rendered.




3-Create a gradient
Using 'Scriptina' font type "Thank you". We'll keep it black for now.
Go back to your Background layer. Open your Gradient palette. At the bottom of the palette click the icon second in from the left. This will create a new gradient and open the gradient editing dialogue. Using this create a gradient similar in colors to this one:

This will automatically be saved to your gradients palette. Name it whatever you wish.
Alternatively, if you don't wish to make your own gradient you can use any of the many preset gradients already available.

4-Apply the gradient to a gray-scale image
Being sure the new gradient is selected in the gradient palette, in the menus go to colors>map>Gradient map. Once clicked the Gradient map will apply itself to the current active layer. This is what will occur in our case:


5-Make the image POP!
To make this image really stand out create another blank layer just above the background layer. repeat the steps we used to create our back ground layer and apply a slightly different gradient in a gradient map. Turn the new layers layer mode to 'screen'. This is what I came up with for the new layer. and the next image is what they look like when they are combined. The screen layer mode allows the background layer to show through partially. This creates the illusion of greater depth and contrast.

After this I chose to turn the color of my text a blood red. But you color things however you see fit.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. I printed this at a local store, and wrote a little message on the back. Printing this on a heavier weight paper only ads to how nice this turns out.