Feather/Soft Edge Glitch

[GDcadence]

Hello,

I'm attempting to feather a layer. I used two methods: a gradient mask and a manual brush mask. For some reason, the "soft" transition is coming out with a hard cutoff line within the gradient. 

I also tried "feather gradient" in Indesign with just that one layer, and it is doing the same thing. Notice the cut-off in the gradient. This is very frustrating.

Exporting to PDF prior to printing is still showing the cutoff too. I have not had this issue before and I use soft brushes every day with no issues. Regardless a gradient mask should be perfectly smooth.

Any ideas?

 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Could you please post a screenshot taken at View > 100% with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Channels, Options Bar, …) visible? 

Bave you tried working in 16bit? 

[GDcadence]

I switched to 16 bit, redid the gradient mask, same result 😞

Any other thoughts?

I've attached the file in the original post. So you can see how a brush mask is given the same cutoff effect but curved. I used a soft-edge brush at a large size and painted from outside the canvas.. to ensure a very soft gradient. 

[GDcadence]

Also made a new file at 32 bits and it looks exactly the same (with the cutoff). 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Switching to 16bit seems to work just fine for me, even with the existing Layer Mask (see screenshots). 

So I wonder if the issue is your display (monitor or monitor profile). 

Also the image is unprofiled – so that is already a problem as far as a Color Management goes. 

What are the Edit > Color Settings? 

[GDcadence]

Attached are the color settings. 

I haven't changed these ever. I'm not sure what an unprofiled image means. I'll have to look that up.

I use masks all the time, and have never had this issue. Perhaps it's the layer itself. 

Switching to 16 bit didn't change how it looked (it still looks like your first image). 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

»I'm not sure what an unprofiled image means.«

Please read up on Color Management, unprofiled images are an unnecessary source or potential problems. 

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/understanding-color-management.html1

http://www.gballard.net/psd/cmstheory.html

When was your monitor last calibrated? 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

I suspect the issue might be with your dsplay, not the image. 

Still, you could try adding Noise (with a Pattern Layer set to Linear Light and reduced Opacity and a Noise Pattern based on 50% gray)?