The Gradient Editor  consists of the Gradient Preset Menu , controls to create New Gradients , Rename Gradients, Remove Gradients, Duplicate  Gradients, Load and Save Gradients, Adjust color or transparency, Color Stops to build Gradients, and the Gradient Bar.

Gradient Editor  dialog box

Creating New Gradients
To create a new Gradient {Click} New and name it in the Name field.  A new Thumbnail will appear in the Gradient Preset Menu .

The Gradient Bar is automatically built with a copy of the last selected Gradient.  To change a color select one of the Color Stops situated at the bottom of the Gradient Bar and {Double-Click} on it.  Select a color from the Color Picker .

To add additional Color Stops to the Gradient {Click} on an empty spot beneath the Gradient Bar.  To modify the location of Gradient colors drag the Color Stops and Midpoint Markers back and forth as you desire.  To delete a color simply select it’s Color Stop and hit the [DEL] key or drag up or down on it and it will disappear.

To add Transparency  {Click} and adjust the Stops at the top of the Gradient Bar (which displays Alpha information rather than colors) and adjust the Opacity  Slider at the bottom of the dialog box.  {Clicking} and dragging the Stops and Midpoint Markers effects the placement of Transparency.

Adjust the Smoothness Slider to increase or decrease the smoothness of your Gradient.  You can also choose a Gradient Type from the Type drop-down Menu .  Smooth is the default while Noise creates a Gradient that randomly mixes the color across a selected range.  Adjust the various Sliders in the dialog box to find a noisy Gradient that suits your needs.

If you wish you can use percentage figures to precisely position the Stops and the Midpoint Markers by adjusting the location sliders at the bottom of the dialog box. 

Click} OK to finish.

Paint Bucket Tool

The Paint Bucket Tool replaces a color or range of colors with either the current Foreground Color or a pattern if you have defined one.  At this point, as you’ve been experimenting with all the Tools you should be very familiar with the Paint Bucket’s options, which include Blend Mode , Opacity , Tolerance, Anti-alias ed, Contents (Foreground or Pattern), Use All Layers , and Contiguous.

Using the Type Tool
Use the Type Tool to create text in Photoshop .  For the Web you’ll be using type to label buttons and as elements of typographic design.  Select the Type Tool and {Click} in the Image Window .  Photoshop creates a new Text Layer  (indicated in the Layers  Palette  by a capital “T” at the edge of the Layer).  Select the Vertical Type Tool  to input vertical text.  Select the Type Mask Tool    to create a selection in the shape of the text you input.