Confusion on Gradient Tool Behavior

[dsev1]

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!!

[c.pfaffenbichler]

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. 

[dsev1]

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]

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

[Marianne-Deiters]

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

[dsev1]

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]

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

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

[dsev1]

I tried testing with both Black to White and Black to transparent and still have bad results, unfortunately.

[Marianne-Deiters]

Try holding Shift while dragging

[dsev1]

I tried holding shift, but it only constrains the stroke to be straight. I also tried Alt/Option and Cmd/Cntrl. but no luck.

[PECourtejoie]

Hi, I just switched my gradient to Black to Transparent, targeted a layer mask, and am able to hide more and more parts of my layer.

In your image, we see a black to white gradient, and a regular layer (but it would work the same way on the pixel content of the layer.)

IF you selected a Black to transparent gradient, you might have an issue with your preferences, I'd try to reset the tool in the option bar: right-click the icon and select reset tool.

As an alternative, did you try switching the blending mode to Multiply?

[dsev1]

Yes, I tried Normal and Multiply.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Could you also post screenshots that show what happens when you use Black-to-White with Multiply? 

[dsev1]

I tried testing with both Black to White and Black to transparent and still have bad results, unfortunately.

[PECourtejoie]

Hi, did you 1) try to restart photoshop

2) try resetting the tool, as explained earlier?

3) Or reset Photoshop's preferences by holding down Ctrl+Alt+Shift (Pc) Cmd+Opt+Shift (Mac) as you click on Photoshop's icon to start it up.

See: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html

If you do have access to the menu Edit>Preferences (Pc) or Photoshop>Preferences (Mac), it is possible to reset them from the General submenu.

[dsev1]

Thank you. I have tried resetting the tool and resetting Photoshop preferences. Honestly, I've been using Photoshop for about 15 years, and the gradient tool always behaved this way, so I thought that was standard behavior for the gradient tool until I saw the tutorial video.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

[dsev1]

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.

[dsev1]

Just to be clear, I tried testing with both Black to White and Black to transparent and still have bad results, unfortunately.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

»I tried testing with both Black to White and Black to transparent«

Screenshots or screen recordings please. 

Edit: Please don’t forget including all pertinent Panels and Bars in the images. 

[PECourtejoie]

An alternative to the transparent gradient is changing a Black to White gradient's blend mode to multiply or darken.

[dsev1]

Thank you. yes, I had also tried multiply And even blending options for this.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Please don’t just tell us stuff, show us the screenshots to illustrate your claim. 

If you should have lost the default gradients then nothing is keeping you from either 

• loading them again or 

• creating a new Gradient that goes from a Color to transparent

[dsev1]

Ok, I'll have to record a video and upload it.

I don't think I lost any default gradients. I believe the gradient tool is either acting funny or I am doing something wrong.

[PECourtejoie]

If a tool acts funny, reset it: right-click on its icon in the option bar: