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A
Anonymous
March 24, 2010
Answered

Apply transparent fade to photo edges

  • March 24, 2010
  • 3 replies
  • 402473 views

I have found that I can apply a fade to transparent using the Gradient tool, and dragging it in to the picture.  Works great, but I can only apply fade to one side of the photo. If I try to do the other side of the photo, the previous fade is undone.  I have to save the changed photo and redo the Gradient tool to another side of the pic, and so on.  Goal is to apply an uneven fade to transparency around the edges of a picture.   I have also tried the Background Eraser, results have not been great - seems to leave a lot of pixels behind.  Is there a way to do this - without repeatedly fading one side, saving, fading a side, saving, etc....?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer JustLittleOlMe

An even easier method (CS5):

Make your selection of what you wish to keep via the Marquee tool or thru a series of Select menu options (All - Modify border (lg) - Modify Feather (sm)- Inverse).

Choose Select - Refine Edges...

Before clicking OK:

1) Adjust the Feather slider (large)

2) Adjust the Edge (left)

3) Choose Output to: as Layer Mask

4) re-adjust as necessary

Click OK and there you go. Ready to Place it into another photo or onto a background where it can be Free Transformed to meet your needs.

If you also choose Remember Settings before you click OK after you have figured out what you like then it will be even easier yet the next time you need to do this.

3 replies

J
JustLittleOlMeCorrect answer
Participant
August 16, 2011

An even easier method (CS5):

Make your selection of what you wish to keep via the Marquee tool or thru a series of Select menu options (All - Modify border (lg) - Modify Feather (sm)- Inverse).

Choose Select - Refine Edges...

Before clicking OK:

1) Adjust the Feather slider (large)

2) Adjust the Edge (left)

3) Choose Output to: as Layer Mask

4) re-adjust as necessary

Click OK and there you go. Ready to Place it into another photo or onto a background where it can be Free Transformed to meet your needs.

If you also choose Remember Settings before you click OK after you have figured out what you like then it will be even easier yet the next time you need to do this.

A
Anonymous
December 15, 2011

Thanks so much. I t took me a minute to fiddle around with it but with your help and the preceding posts, I figured it out. Thanks!

A
Anonymous
March 24, 2010

Rename the Background layer by Alt-double clicking it.


Create a new layer, fill it with white and drag it below the other one.


With the Rectangular Marquee make a selection a bit smaller than the  image.


Make a layer mask from the selection, on the image layer by clicking on the mask icon at the bottom of the layers palette.


Apply a Gaussian blur to the mask and adjust to taste.

    A
    Anonymous
    March 24, 2010

    Thanks for the help - a further question - this seems to be a way to add an even

    fade all the way around a picture.  Is there a way to add an uneven fade?  Like

    more fade in one corner, less in another - something like torn paper

    shape but with the fade effect?

    A
    Anonymous
    March 24, 2010

    You can modify the layer mask by painting on it with a soft black brush with medium opacity.


    (You select the mask in the layers palette and actually paint on the image.)


    Doing the torn effect is a matter of your painting ability.


    There are also plug-ins and actions for all sorts of other effects



    A
    Anonymous
    March 24, 2010

    Try a google search for photoshop vignette tutorial. There are a few different ways to go about achieving this.

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