Gradient Tool no longer working as expected?

[Passionate_Whirlwind5D7F]

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone can help me sort this out, I seem to have been going around in circles for the last half hour!  I use the gradient tool for simple fades to transparency. Have done it for years. And now it seems that either something is wrong or something isn't working as usual as it now fades to a colour, or puts a colour + white fade over my image. I've only ever used the tool directly on layers, never got it to work with a mask and even trying a few solution videos, I still can't seem to get it to work on a mask! Weird! 

Anyway, I've screenshot my workspace including an image with evidence that this has been working (even though it's white, it was a fade to transparent) - is there something simple I'm missing?!

Many thanks in advance.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

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

Have you reset the Tool yet? 

Would using Gradient Layers be an option? 

[Passionate_Whirlwind5D7F]

Thanks for getting back to me. Here are some more screenshots, please let me know if you need something more specific. 

Here is the document:

This is what I want to place on the right, with a fade in that starts from behind the top images on the left.

This is what happens:

 

I can't see why this isn't working as it used to (which was yesterday). 

Also to note, I'm on 22.5.1.

[Passionate_Whirlwind5D7F]

Ad yes, sorry, I've reset the tool and all my preferences.

[c.pfaffenbichler · Accepted solution]

Did you rasterize the Smart Object to apply the Gradient? 

Where did you start teh Gradient? 

I recommend to just use a Gradient Layer, that maintains editability. 

[Passionate_Whirlwind5D7F]

I got the gradient layer working on the black to white setting. Not sure why the transparency option isn't working, but I can still get on with it so moving on. Thanks for your help!

[Earth Oliver]

you should be using a Layer Mask for this, not applying the gradient directly on the layer.

[Earth Oliver · Accepted solution]

Actually, it looks to me like you're just applying the mask in the wrong direction. You need to either check Reverse or simply add the grad from the opposite side.

[Passionate_Whirlwind5D7F]

the reverse button! I knew it would be something simple! Thank you!

[PECourtejoie]

Hi!

To put transparency on an image, you need to use a black to white gradient on the layer mask, not a transparent to white.

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/masking-layers.html

As an alternative, you could use a transparent layer with a transparent to white gradient, under the Smart Object, and use it as a clipping mask. https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/revealing-layers-clipping-masks.html