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Answered

Gradient tool not working with layer masks..

Forum|Forum|14 years ago
December 21, 2011
5 replies
109884 views

Hello, I'll start off by saying i'm not a photoshop expert by any means.. but I usually manage to get my projects done with a little fusing.

At the moment i'm trying to fade out the last few inches of a photograph so it blends more seamlessly into backgrounds it's placed onto.

If I use the gradient tool, set to "Foreground to Transparent" I get the proper effect, but instead of fading to transparent it fades to white.. which dosen't work when I move the layer over a coloured background.

I've read and watched many tutorials on this, and they all say to create a layer mask, and then use the gradient tool.. but for some reason anytime I have the layer mask selected the gradient tool won't work at all..

Can anyone provide any advice? I've been toying with this for hours..

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer PECourtejoie

And making sure that the blending mode for the gradient tool is set to Normal.

J

Jan239468033oau

New Participant

The bug is still there. Blending image with transparend gradient while using a mask doesn't work. There is no smooth transition and the part of the image that should blend nicely into underlying color. Tried everything and double checked my settings. Adobe please help/fix - it simply doesn't work.

J

jenifferz

New Participant

Thank you so much, @PECourtejoie. I've been messing around with this for an hour and that little mode setting is what helped me move on with my work!

E

EthanM_25

Participating Frequently

Hi folks,

Mine is still not working and is set to 'normal' any ideas?

I'm trying to make the top of an image a transparent fade but when I do so on a normal layer it just shows up white and then switching to a layer mask you can see the black and white showing on the thumbnail but nothing happens on the actual image?

Images attached

PECourtejoie

Community Expert

@EthanM_25 It's a bit late to answer you, but since it could also help others, I'm replying here...

If you are trying to make the top of the image transparent, you need to click on the mask, then go to image>adjustment>invert (or use the CTRL+I shortcut, or you can also click the invert button that's hidden lower in the properties panel, if you scroll down) : it will be black on top and white in the bottom. Now you can then drag the mask you adjusted on Layer 0. The black will hide the opacity, and the white will show the image.

The way you had it setup, you were adding transparent pixels on top, instead of removing the opacity of the bottom layer.

I hope this helps.

PECourtejoieCorrect answer

Community Expert

And making sure that the blending mode for the gradient tool is set to Normal.

J

just_lucAuthor

New Participant

Ding Ding Ding We have a winner!!

Mode was set to screen instead of normal.

Thanks to all who played!

A

Anonymous

IT STILL DOESN'T WORK!! HOW DO I GET BACK TO THE WORKING PHOTOSHOP CS5?

Photoshop 12.1 x64 on OS X 10.7

The 'Blending' isn't the issue!

Using a black-to-white gradation in a white layer mask (everything exposed) is not working.

Using a black-to-transparent gradation in a white layer mask (everything exposed) is not working.

But, a using a white-to-black gradation in a black layer mask (everything hidden) is working.

or, using a white-to-black gradation in a black layer mask (everything hidden) is working.

This used-to work; shall we keep an eye out for a fix or is Adobe going to back-out this their bug from the update that broke CS5?

Wow, went to Adobe's "Feedback/Bug Fix Form" at http://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family. Oh... the bug form doesn't submit - how distrubing (glad I've saved-off the text so I can share it here).

So, here's the bug I've been trying to get Adobe to have a look at - once again...

GRADIENT TOOL NOT WORKING WITH LAYER MASKS.

Given: Photoshop 12.1.1 x64 on OS X 10.7

Issue: BLACK GRADATION WITHIN A WHITE/TRANSPARENT LAYER MASK DOESN'T PAINT A BLACK GRADATION INSIDE THE WHITE/TRANSPARENT LAYER MASK

Steps to Reproduce:

1) Build an photoshop file 50x50 pixels file.

2) Add a new layer (layer 1) above the transparent layer (layer 0).

3) Put a color in layer 1.

4) Add a transparent/white layer mask to layer 1.

5) Select the "GRADIENT TOOL". Set the tool for a gradient from BLACK TO TRANSPARENT.

6) Select the transparent/white layer mask in layer 1.

7) Make a black to transparent gradient in the transparent/white layer mask in layer 1.

NOTE THAT THE WHITE TRANSPARENT MASK LAYER DOESN'T LET YOU PAINT BLACK.

Conclusion:

1) Using a black-to-white gradation in a white layer mask (everything exposed) is not working.

2) Using a black-to-transparent gradation in a white layer mask (everything exposed) is not working.

3) Using a white-to-black gradation in a black layer mask (everything hidden) is working.

4) Using a white-to-black gradation in a black layer mask (everything hidden) is working.

Possible Fix:

Reverse the update that caused this failure.

Personal Comment:

This used-to work; shall we keep an eye out for a fix or is Adobe going to back-out this their bug from the update that broke Photoshop? When will this be fixed?

I use the gradient tool constantly inside layer masks - this bug has cost me much time, effort and emotion. Also, I've been trying for a couple days to get this bug information to correct "Adobe" people; I'm still unsure if this is really going anywhere. Adobe website isn't very friendly (in my opinion).