Is it possible to use the new Gradient tool on a Shape layer?

[Roger Breton]

I'm struggling to recreate this simple Gradient design:

I want to recreate the linear gradient that's inside this cirlcle in Photoshop. 

I first draw a circle with the Ellipse tool (U) as a Shape layer.

In the Properties panel, I select on the Fill icon where I get to the Gradient editor.
Then I edit the Starting and End colors using the Picker. So far so good.
But, I don't seem to see the color change much in the circle?
After a while, I reasoned it's because the Gradient is calculated (behind the scene, AFAIK) to the "Entire canevas", and not only, as it's done in Illustrator, on the object itself. To demonstrate this, I drew another shape, a rectangle, on a new Shape layer, that extends to the whole canvas and got this:

What would be my options?
I thought I was going to get around this by using the new Gradient tool but it does not seem to work inside a shape?

Any help is appreciated.

[Roger Breton]

The new Gradient tool is a change in "culture"?
AFAI can see, it will not work inside a vector shape.
I tried creating the Gradient which extends to the whole layer and then to add a Vector Layer mask but that brought me back to a "regular" shape layer gradient?

The only way I found to get what I wanted was to 1) draw a circulare selection then, with the selection active, 2) use the new Gradient tool to fill the selection. 

Funny thing is when I try to edit the color stops, I moved the filled layer object to the left, so that I would still be able to see the image I try to recreate, so that I could use the picker on the gradient tab stops but the Gradient "Line" remains centered?

BTW, I have not figured out how to change the new Gradient color BEFORE applying it, as I'm used to do it with the "Classic" gradient.

[Semaphoric]

I would use a Gradient Shape layer with an angle of 90°. Then, double-click on its thumbnail in the layers panel to bring up the Gradient Fill dialog. From there, click the bar that shows the Gradient, but NOT the drop-down arrow. This opens the "Real" gradient editor.

You can also open the "Real" editor from a Gradient Fill layer this way.

[Conrad_C]

BTW, I have not figured out how to change the new Gradient color BEFORE applying it, as I'm used to do it with the "Classic" gradient.

By @Roger Breton

For the Gradient tool, you set the default by choosing your gradient preset from the options bar for the Gradient tool, or in the Gradients panel. The currently selected gradient preset determines the next gradient.

This can seem unfamiliar and jarring to anyone who built their muscle memory around setting the gradient colors in advance by setting the Foreground and Background swatches, because for the Gradient tool that’s not enough (although it can be if you select the right preset, see below). In my opinion, it’s worth retraining around the new way with the Gradient tool because it offers some advantages that weren’t possible the old way.

One of the problems with the classic way is that the Foreground and Background swatches let you set only two color stops, and they can only be the ends of the gradient. The way the new object-oriented Gradient tool gradients work (i.e., you select the preset to set the default) the default can now involve any number of colors, using any number of stops, including not just color stops but also opacity stops. So the new way is potentially much more flexible. You just have to orient yourself around gradient presets, and set up the ones you like the most so you can set your default in one click.

And…this does not mean the Gradient tool completely prevents you from using the Foreground and Background swatches. If you want the Foreground and Background swatches to continue having a role with the Gradient tool, then you want to select the preset named Foreground to Background. As long as that is your Gradient tool preset, it will follow the current foreground and background colors you set. 

However, Photoshop seems to forget that the Foreground to Background preset was selected, so you kind of have to verify that it is before you drag the Gradient tool again.

(Sorry about the gradient quality in the GIF animations…the forum software does some kind of recompressing that makes them look worse than in the original GIF files I upload.)

[Conrad_C]

I’m able to apply a circular vector mask to a gradient shape layer, but like Roger said that doesn’t let the Gradient tool edit it. However, you can still edit the gradient shape layer using the Appearance section of the Properties panel.

It is possible to let the Gradient tool edit a gradient inside a circle, if you apply the Gradient Fill layer as a clipping mask (Layer > Create Clipping Mask).