How do I add this sort of color field/effect?

Question

I want to do the overlay/filter effects below(note they are pretty subtle):

I've experimented with several blending options but I can't seem to find out how the make that overlay effect. A detailed response is appreciative. Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

Well, you can do this pretty easy.

1. Have a background image
2. Go to Create new fill or adjustment layer > Solid Color
3. Select a color
4. Click on the Layer Mask and take the Brush tool, choose black as the foreground color⁽¹⁾ and set it's hardness to 0 and it's opacity to 10-15% (or whatever makes you happy) and adjust the brush size.
5. Start painting where you want it to be see-through

⁽¹⁾ When using a Solid Color you can change the color by double clicking on the Layer thumbnail and selecting a color. When clicking on the Layer thumbnail mask you can use two colors: black and white where full white means 100% opacity of the color you selected on the Layer thumbnail and full black means 100% Transparency of that same color.

So in our case, choosing a black brush with 15% opacity we are actually erasing 15% of the color's opacity, leaving it with only 85%.

Result:

It's better to use a brush instead of a gradient cause you have more control over the result and you can give it different shapes/sizes/opacity and by using a solid color you maintain full editing capabilities of everything and you can change the shape, the color, everything.