How to make a gradient???

Sorry for my bad english...

Is this the place?? but I wanted to know how can I apply a transparency to a shape.... using gradients I apply circular, square transparency, or using a mask a transparency to an object, but now I want to apply it to a shape... for example a Star, so it fades from a color in the edge to transparent in the center, but always following the edges.

also... ehmm.. I have applied mask many times... but i still don't know how to set them, they appear just when I need them, but I forgot how I did ¬¬

Can anyone help me???

Thanks

------------------------------------------------------------ -------------- En Español

Ahora, por si alguien habla español y no me entendio mas arriba, jeje

Lo que quiero hacer es una transparencia, que sea un desvanecimiento, lo he logrado con los "gradients", ya saben, aplicando color de un lado, y del otro totalmente trasparente, pero siempre con las formas que ya trae photoshop, es decir, los circulos, cuadrados, y esas que ya vienen predefinidas.
Lo que quiero hacer es lo mismo, pero con una forma irregular, por ejemplo, una estrella, que desde las orillas se haga transparente
Siempre me he preguntado como hacer eso, y nunca he sabido...

y tambien como se agregan las mascaras, las he logrado poner muchas veces, pero esto ha sido pura chiripa, justo cuando las necesito salen, pero nunca me fijo en como hice que salieran ¬¬

alguien que me pueda ayudar???, se los agradeceria mucho

Gracias

Basic layer mask functionailty described in the FAQ here: Mathias Vejerslev, "How to make a gradual opacity fade on a layer" #, 30 Apr 2003 10:19 am </cgi-bin/webx?50>

Once you´ve got this nailed, please ask again if needed.

ohh, now I know how to I did to make a mask... but again, the problem, with that I can make a fade... but linear o circular, and I want a fade following the edge of my figure, which in fact, it has irregular curves

maybe if you think of some wather spilled in the floor, what I try to do is make the contour with full color, but the center totally faded or the center of another color, but always following the edge form

I want a fade following the edge of my figure, which in fact, it has irregular curves

Make a selection of the edge of the figure then heavily feather the selection before applying it to the mask.

OOORALE, muchas gracias, por fin he podido :D:D:D:D, muchas gracias :)