Create a graduated filter

1 Developing agent

One way to set a graduated filter is to use a series of adjustment layers, then put a layer mask over the top, which allows later alteration. We’ll use a method that can’t be changed after saving, but is faster. Switch to the Develop persona.

2 Set the foreground

Before you go further, get the picture’s foreground ready, including saturation or exposure tweaks. Once you leave the Develop persona, any changes you make will affect the entire image, so get the foreground looking how you want.

3 Create an overlay

Press g to select the Gradient tool. Drag downwards from the top-center of your image and you’ll see a red overlay that fades at the bottom. For our image, we’ve dragged until the overlay’s bottom rests on the foreground’s top edge.

4 Fix exposure

In the panel on the right, select the Basic tab and click the main Exposure slider at the top of that tab. As soon as you start dragging it left to reduce the exposure in your image, you’ll see the top part of your image start to change.

5 Saturate weaker colors

The main problem with this image is saturation – the sky isn’t blue enough to do the scene justice. Further down the Basic tab, drag the Saturation slider right to embolden the colors in your image.

6 Go easy

If your changes start to look a bit dramatic, it’s often worth dialing them back. Edits that look great on a glossy screen can look silly in print – you’re aiming to perfect your image, not make it unrecognizable from the original.

7 Move the gradient

As long as you’re in the Develop persona, you can change your gradient. Click the control blob at its top, say, and you can drag the gradient overlay side to side – useful if, as here, you’ve got bright white clouds towards a shot’s corner.

8 New overlays

In the Overlays tab, click the Add Gradient Overlay icon (bottom-right). This will create a new gradient on top of your first one, allowing you to infinitely fine-tune your edit. Each gradient you add is listed here – click one to change it.

9 Fear of commitment

Got it right? Click the blue Develop button near the top-left corner of the window and your changes will be saved; you can’t go back and change them now, but you can still work on your image with Affinity Photo’s normal tools.