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themattaverse
themattaverse
Participant
March 14, 2022
Answered

Gradient Tool no longer working as expected?

  • March 14, 2022
  • 4 replies
  • 889 views

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone can help me sort this out, I seem to have been going around in circles for the last half hour!  I use the gradient tool for simple fades to transparency. Have done it for years. And now it seems that either something is wrong or something isn't working as usual as it now fades to a colour, or puts a colour + white fade over my image. I've only ever used the tool directly on layers, never got it to work with a mask and even trying a few solution videos, I still can't seem to get it to work on a mask! Weird! 

Anyway, I've screenshot my workspace including an image with evidence that this has been working (even though it's white, it was a fade to transparent) - is there something simple I'm missing?!

Many thanks in advance.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Earth Oliver

    Actually, it looks to me like you're just applying the mask in the wrong direction. You need to either check Reverse or simply add the grad from the opposite side.

    4 replies

    PECourtejoie
    Community Expert
    PECourtejoieCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 16, 2022

    Hi!

    To put transparency on an image, you need to use a black to white gradient on the layer mask, not a transparent to white.

    https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/masking-layers.html

     

    As an alternative, you could use a transparent layer with a transparent to white gradient, under the Smart Object, and use it as a clipping mask. https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/revealing-layers-clipping-masks.html

     

      Earth Oliver
      Earth OliverCorrect answer
      Legend
      March 16, 2022

      Actually, it looks to me like you're just applying the mask in the wrong direction. You need to either check Reverse or simply add the grad from the opposite side.

      themattaverse
      themattaverseAuthor
      Participant
      March 22, 2022

      the reverse button! I knew it would be something simple! Thank you!

      Earth Oliver
      Earth Oliver
      Legend
      March 16, 2022

      you should be using a Layer Mask for this, not applying the gradient directly on the layer.

        c.pfaffenbichler
        Community Expert
        c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        March 14, 2022

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

        Have you reset the Tool yet? 

         

        Would using Gradient Layers be an option? 

        themattaverse
        themattaverseAuthor
        Participant
        March 14, 2022

        Thanks for getting back to me. Here are some more screenshots, please let me know if you need something more specific. 

        Here is the document:

        This is what I want to place on the right, with a fade in that starts from behind the top images on the left.

        This is what happens:

         

        I can't see why this isn't working as it used to (which was yesterday). 

        Also to note, I'm on 22.5.1.

        themattaverse
        themattaverseAuthor
        Participant
        March 14, 2022

        Ad yes, sorry, I've reset the tool and all my preferences.

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