How do I get the transparency gradient to apply to the stroke?

[Maxwb99]

I added a transparent gradient to the two characters here, you can see I circled them in the bottom right. But when I add a stroke to them, even the areas of opacity are outlined by the stroke, as you can see circled. How do I fix this?

[Bojan Živković · Accepted solution]

Not sure what exactly you want to achieve. Perhaps Layer Mask Hides Effects from Layer Style dialogue can solve your problem?

[Trevor.Dennis · Accepted solution]

Yes Bojan.  That's a better way of doing it.

[Maxwb99]

You guys are great, thank you. Worked perfectly.

[Trevor.Dennis]

Nice artwork.  There is so much going on, I have a very strong feeling that I am not understanding what you are trying achieve?  I initially took 'transparent gradient' to mean that the stroke faded away from the subject, which is better done with outer glow.

Now I am thinking you mean as below.  The two red circles are the same, with one having a white stroke, which, as you said, is not working.

If you are after the following effect

Add the stroke

Make the layer a Smart Object

Add layer mask and run the gradient.

Having now answered every question _except_ the one you actually asked, I'd better let you explain so we can try again.