Skip to main content
Participant
August 4, 2010
Question

feathering a single edge

  • August 4, 2010
  • 1 reply
  • 30222 views

I am using CS3 and trying to create a feathered edge on just on side of a photo image but don't know how.

Specifically, I am creating a web image / link using a small, long rectangle with a colored background. On the left side is text and on the right is an image with the inner (left) edge feathered - intended to blend into the text.

I am not expertly trained with adobe but have been using it for many years - mostly trial and error... I usually use photoshop and illustrator, but don't know what is the best way to create this.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

--Jeff

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    1 reply

    the_wine_snob
    Inspiring
    August 5, 2010

    Jeff,

    To Feather just one edge of a rectangular image, just add a bit of room with Canvas Size and up that to give you some room and then do a Select just your image in the new, larger canvas, and press Q to go to QuickMask Mode. There, do a Selection of just that one edge, giving some room in that Selection for the new Feathered edge. With that Selection, add a Blur to the one Selected edge. When done, hit Q again, to go to that Selection. You now have only one edge Feathered.

    Note: when you do the Canvas enlargement, take care with the choice of Background, as that is where things will Feather. You could choose Transparency, if needed.

    Good luck,

    Hunt

    PS - instead of a Blur, you could also do a Gradient on that one side, while in QuickMask Mode. Actually, on second thought, this would probably be my first choice.

    Message was edited by: Bill Hunt - Added PS

    jeff_w01Author
    Participant
    August 5, 2010

    Thanks for the help, but haven't got it yet...

    I opened a JPEG image directly and there are no layers (don't know if that's necessary). When I increase canvas size it doesn't give a choice for transparent background, which I was hoping to do. I have tried with black just to get something to work.

    I don't know how to select the image within the canvas. I have a choice for select all but it chooses the entire canvas.

    Whatever I have tried, after going into quick mask mode, I am not able to select just one edge...

    Sorry for my ineptness... thanks for the help! --J

    Inspiring
    August 6, 2010

    Yes, or this one...


    Make the car a layer by double clicking on the layer icon in the layers panel (if it's already a layer, you should skip this step).

    Then add a layer mask Layer > Layer mask > Reveal all.

    Then use the gradient tool (white to black) and drag from white (where you want the image to be fully opaque) to black (where you want the image to be fully transparent).

    You can see if you are using the gradient tool on the layer itself, or the layer mask by the little black focus ring surrounding the layer or the mask in the layers panel. In the below pic the mask is active and any painting will affect it, including the gradient tool. White reveals, black conceals.