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AndresGarcia84
AndresGarcia84
Inspiring
March 1, 2025
Question

Gradient tool glitch

  • March 1, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 565 views

Using Photoshop 2025 v26.41 - Mac OS Sonoma 14.3 

 

Working with bracketed photography, two layers and then mask out to reveal or hide detail. I. have always been able to add multiple radial gradient adjustments on the same layer mask however, all of a sudden, when I attempt to create another radial gradient (on same layer mask) it pulls up the handles of the only one it will let me add. Seems like a glitch because a couple of times if I wait a while it might let me add another one, randomly so it doesn't really add up.  

 

Attached is a reference of what the layer mask might typically look like, different areas of linear or radial gradients and different densities within it is as well. Any suggestions? I would really really appreciate any help. 

 

I already reset the tool, reset the work space and even restarted the computer...scrolled to all possible areas within the layer mask options but can't figure it out 

    2 replies

    Z
    ZappaJul
    Participating Frequently
    March 26, 2025

    Photoshop 26.4.1, Mac, Sequoia 15.3.2 .

     

    I feel yr pain. I'm having the same issues, also with interior shots. I've done this process hundreds of times, but despite 25 years experience using PS, I find the new Gradient Tool incomprehensible. Now it seems Classic Gradient no longer works with layer masks in a controllable or predictable way either.


    After watching every online video I could find without resolving the issue, the only soliution I was able to come up with was blending by hand with a brush - a dangerous business, but ultimately quicker than continuing to pfaff with Gradient Tools.

    I'm not sure I can continue using Photoshop at all now, there are so many issues.

    Half my reason for blending different interior shots was to remove elements on the floor that Generative Fill couldn't handle. (I do know how to use it, but results are almost always worse than what I can achieve manually). However, I couldn't clone them out due to floorboard perspective; couldn't use Vanishing Point due to lack of source material to clone from in the right perspective; returned to old friend Content Aware Fill (which used to do a great job) but unfortunately that's been 'enhanced' too, and now proves useless 9/10 times, on things that worked well before. (It couldn't recognise the direction of the floorboards and all the new Rotation options made the results exponentially worse).

    I'm sorry I can't offer a better solution than using Brush to blend layers. If you find one, hope you'll share it, as will I. Good luck.

    AndresGarcia84
    AndresGarcia84Author
    Inspiring
    March 27, 2025

    Super frustrating, I still haven't been able to fall back to how it used to work, the odd thing is it happened literally from one day the next. 

     

    It isn't ideal but I kind of found a "way around" not be able to add multiple layer masks. For example if I want to reveal detail from the overexposed image (same two images but different exposures) and using the circular gradiente tool... I will drag that first mask and release, I will drag again (and here is the issue, it activates the handles of that same one I just created) BUT, if you release, undo and drag again it will bring up a second and new gradient... muscle memory is now kicking in but in a nutshell I now have been forced to create circular gradient, release, drag again, undo, drag again a new one and so on... 

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 2, 2025

    Could you please post screenshots with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Options Bar, Properties, …) visible? 

    Have you tried »Classic Gradient«? 

    AndresGarcia84
    AndresGarcia84Author
    Inspiring
    March 2, 2025

    Thanks for your help! Attached a couple of screenshots of the panels

    R/ Classic gradient does allow me to just "drag away" with the adjustments but the handles and color swaps of the new versions are a nice to have and don't have or see those on the classic gradient. 

     

    Still super confused about what might be off or going on.... I update OS just in case...the only "way around" I managed to notice is the following: Radial Gradient and mask once, shift key as I would normally do to drag a new one on the same layer mask but that pulls up those same handles of the only one it seems to allow - Control Z will deactivate those handles and then I can add a second gradient. Not ideal but I've been doing, undoing and doing again for every new gradient I want to add within that same layer mask 

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 3, 2025

    I am afraid at current you can either use Classic Gradient or the »new« Gradient (with a work-around like you mentioned). 

     

    But it seems there is something that seems like a bug in the »new« Gradient. 

    If I create a Gradient on the Mask, select the Brush Tool and paint into it, select the Gradient Tool again and edit the Gradient the Brush stroke is simply removed. 

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