Gradient Mask tab is disappearing

[Patrick27029827to3e]

Maybe I''m doing something wrong but it looks more like Photoshop not working correctly.

If I use a gradient to mask a layer, I can use the controls on the document or in the properties window to adjust the gradient. For some reason, when I deselect and return to this layer mask, the gradient option is gone and all that is left is a Layer Mask with controls for Density and Feather. The icon for the gradient mask is missing.

I should add that this is a gradient mask, often on a gradient layer.  So, I am creating a radial gradient layer and then masking with a linear or angular gradient. It works fine while I'm adjusting and then stops appearing as an option after I have deselected and reselected it. But if I create a new layer w/gradient mask and reselect original, it sometimes reappears as an option...

I have found that if I apply a gradient mask to another layer and then return to the original layer, the tap reappears. 

Basically, photoshop is acting like I rasterized the gradient ramp...

Anyone else have this issue?

Windows 10 Pro

nVidia RTX 4090

96 Gb RAM

i7-6800k @ 3.4

[Semaphoric]

Layer masks are raster images so they are indeed rasterized. Rather than a mask, try putting a gradient layer with a Foreground to Transparent gradient below the original gradient, and make a Clipping Group of the two. That way, you can use the controls of the lower layer to adust the effect.

[Patrick27029827to3e]

I'm not able to find any information Photoshop's Clipping Groups. Are you refering to Clipping Layers?

Have you tried that? It doesn't seem to work the way a mask works.

I am looking for an editable gradient that I can use to mask the layers transparency. 

Clipping Layers include the opacity of the Layer below, I need it to exclude in addition subtract.

Here's an example. The first panel is the gradient that I need to mask. The second panel is the gradient that I am using as a mask. The third panel is the result with clipping layers. The fourth result is what I am trying to accomplish and what IS accomplished but the gradient randomly diassapears and is rasterized at the least convenient times.

[Semaphoric]

The term seems to be Clipping Masks. The lower gradient needs to be some color to transparent for this to work:

When editing the gradient, you don't use the Properties panel, but Layer > Layer Content Options... which is Old School, and doesn't have the slick interface you get when the layer is created:

[Patrick27029827to3e]

Yeah, I don't know. It looks like the same result, regardless of color or Layer Content Options

[Patrick27029827to3e]

What's really buggy to me, is that the gradient tool works as a mask for a while and then stops working - like Photoshop is doing some housekeeping and randomly decides to rasterize the gradient.

No one else on the internet is using the gradient tool in their masks? I have plenty of ram and gpu - can anyone else confirm this behavior? I'm about ready to go back to Nuke for my print jobs.

As a workaround, open a new document and do the masking there and embed into main document as a smart object, it seems to maintain the gradient mask if the document is not burdened by a bunch of other layers.

[Semaphoric]

One thing I see there is the Object Gradient has transparency in it, so the 'control' layer shows through. I also mis-spoke re the Properties panel, which needs the Gradient tool to be selected.

[Patrick27029827to3e]

Alright, so this appears to be a limitation. If the 'Object Gradient' has transparency, then the clipping mask doesn't work as a gradient, it would need to be rasterized first. Whereas, the gradient as a Mask works, but for some reason, is rasterized at random times durring the session. Interesting. Thanks!