Edit multiple gradients (gradient tool)

Forum|Forum|4 months ago
October 16, 2025
1 reply
386 views

I'm not sure if I'm missing something or if this isn't (yet) a feature.

When working with multiple gradients on a layer, I'm only able to edit the last one.

Being able to edit it at all is great but this feature would be even better if I could switch to another gradient and edit this one. Especially for masks this would be a huge help.

Windows

S_Gans

Community Expert

Hi. I'm wondering if you're using the Gradient Tool in Classic Gradient mode. If so, it's simply creating pixel level gradients. Once those are set, they're not really editable. To make them, you'd make your selection, and simply drag the gradient into it, then hit the check in the control bar, or hit enter to "set" it.
The newer method (since somewhere about 2023, is that the Gradient Tool, when set to just Gradient, makes a Gradient Adjustment Layer. These are completely editable. To do so, you'd click the gradient swatch icon in the Layer panel, and you can change the gradient at will.

Take a look at the screenshots:

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B

BibbidiBobbidiBobAuthor

Known Participant

Thanks for your suggestion.

The important word here is: mask.

In a mask, while creating a black/white gradients, only the last gradient is editable as far as I can tell.

S_Gans

Community Expert

I do think it's the same question. If you have an active selection, and use the Gradient Tool in gradient mode, it automatically creates that layer mask on an Adjustment Layer. But if you simply fill pixels with the Tool in Classic mode, and then mask it, it's still uneditable. I think the operable word isn't "mask" but rather, "Adjustment Layer". Adjustment Layers (as made by the default Gradient tool) are, by definition, editable. If that makes sense.

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