Map an image to a three-color palette
A gradient map throws away the original colors and re-paints the image by brightness: darks become your shadow color, midtones your mid color, highlights your highlight color. It's how you force a wild mix of photos into one deliberate three-color palette.
Set the three colors (shadow, midtone, highlight), tune contrast to control where the bands fall, and add grain for a printed finish. Presets cover editorial, neon and sepia starting points.
How to use it
- Upload your image — it remaps instantly.
- Set the shadow, midtone and highlight colors (dark → light).
- Use Contrast to shift how much falls into each band.
- Add a little grain, then export PNG.
Where designers use it
- cohesive campaign and editorial imagery
- duotone/tritone cover treatments
- brand-palette photo systems
- music and event art
FAQ
What's the difference from the Duotone tool?
Duotone uses two colors (shadow + highlight). Gradient map adds a third midtone color, giving you more control over the middle of the tonal range and richer results.
How do I pick the three colors?
Go dark-to-light: a deep shadow, a saturated midtone that carries the mood, and a bright highlight. The midtone does most of the visual work.
Does it keep any of the original color?
No — it remaps purely on brightness, so any source photo collapses into your chosen palette. That's what makes a mixed set look unified.
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