Inspiring

Answered

Confusion on Gradient Tool Behavior

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
March 23, 2021
6 replies
18503 views

When I use the gradient tool, it affects the layer, and if I am unhappy with its results, I just UNDO and then try again. It is basically a "one shot deal" ... love it or hate it.

However, in this YouTube tutorial (5:25 to 6 min.), the gradient tool in the mask seems to be ADDITIVE, like he keeps adding to what is being masked. https://youtu.be/oZr378NyOKM?list=PLHRSsMUaMQK3CeE_8Ayg36ix01Zgh9teI&t=325

When I try this, after one gradient tool stroke, it completely annihilates any prior masking and creates something from scratch. And the same for each successive gradient tool stroke. So how is he able to make it ADDITIVE? Please help! Thank you!!

How to

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Correct answer Jeff Arola

The problem as i see it is your settings.

First you need to select the Foreground to Transparent gradient and then you need to check Transparency in the Gradient tool options.

(you have your Edit>Preferences>Workspace set for Enable Narrow Options Bar, so you don't see

the word Transpaency in the Tool Options)

After that you should get the same results as in the video in your intial post.

The Narrow Options Bar

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

Something seems strange, though.

Resetting the Tool should have activated Transparency and @PECourtejoie recommended that pretty early on.

Jeff ArolaCorrect answer

Community Expert

The problem as i see it is your settings.

First you need to select the Foreground to Transparent gradient and then you need to check Transparency in the Gradient tool options.

(you have your Edit>Preferences>Workspace set for Enable Narrow Options Bar, so you don't see

the word Transpaency in the Tool Options)

After that you should get the same results as in the video in your intial post.

The Narrow Options Bar

davescm

Community Expert

Well spotted Jeff 🙂

Dave

dsev1Author

Inspiring

All,

Adobe Tech Support got back to me today.

They said the gradient tool would not work properly due to insufficient video RAM in my computer. Apparently, you need at least 2 GB of video RAM for Photoshop 2021, while mine was much lower.

Very odd the items that still work and random items that don't work due to this. Anyway, that's their official position, and I'd thought I'd pass it along. Thanks for all your input and help!

davescm

Community Expert

That is incorrect.

The gradient tool will work with the GPU disabled.

Try resetting the tool and if that does not change, reset preferences.

Dave

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

dsev1Author

Inspiring

Interesting. Mine doesn't seem to behave in this way. Whatever is laid down in the prior gradient tool stroke disappears and only the new gradient tool stroke results seem to present themselves.

M

Mantis376

Participating Frequently

Hello pal, See attached for what I mean. Thinking about it I don't think it it this doing it.

Your friend you asked, did you make sure they had transparency etc all set correctly? It might be to do with the windows drivers if this happened after a CC update is all.

You could roll back to a previous version of PS and see if it works there is all.

Cheers

Rob

Could you see attached please and folow the instructions. Then post a screen grab?

Davescm's comment got me thinking! Thanks Dave

Marianne-Deiters

Participating Frequently

In the tutorial he set the gradient from black to transparent, not black to white.

dsev1Author

Inspiring

Thank you. However, this is not the issue.

In the video, he is able to almost 'paint' like with a brush with the gradient tool, and it continues to add black to the mask. Conversely, for me, for every stroke of the gradient tool, it eliminates the prior gradient in the mask and starts fresh. There is nothing additive. Nothing builds upon the prior gradient tool stroke. It's all or nothing.

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

»Thank you. However, this is not the issue.«

You appear to be mistaken, have you actually tested using the Foreground to transparent-gradient?

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

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

Which Gradient have you chosen to use? »Black, white«, Foreground to transparent«, …?

You can also experiment with Blend Modes.

dsev1Author

Inspiring

I've posted an example screenshot of the gradient to which I am referring. I have used blending modes as well exercise from the tutorial video but for other uses in the task.

I would like to know why the person in the tutorial video has a gradient tool that is behaving differently than mine. Thanks.

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

Did you notiice that I underligned Foreground to transparent in my previous post?

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