fade to transparent gradient only works one side at a time ?!

Fade to transparent gradient only works one side at a time ...I brought in a jpg, placed it on an enlarged canvas with a transparent background, clicked the "add layer mask" button (Why do I have to do this Adolbe ?) and got ONE side of the image to fade off into nothingness - but when I try to get the same effect on the other side of the image , the first side I did snaps back into being fully visible. Is ther any way to fade out all the side of an image ?

While I'm at this - when I try to do this in a layered PSD file , nothing works right - do I have to fade images one at a time and then bring them into a larger PSD ?

"art heyman" wrote in message

Fade to transparent gradient only works one side at a time ...I brought in a jpg, placed it on an enlarged canvas with a transparent background, clicked the "add layer mask" button (Why do I have to do this Adolbe ?) and got ONE side of the image to fade off into nothingness - but when I try to get the same effect on the other side of the image , the first side I did snaps back into being fully visible. Is ther any way to fade out all the side of an image ?

While I'm at this - when I try to do this in a layered PSD file , nothing works right - do I have to fade images one at a time and then bring them into a larger PSD ?

Art,

You need the layer mask to to provide the "base" for the graduation, it is the Alpha channel that supports the transparency. Where the mask is black the image is obscured and where the mask is white(same as painting with transparent) the image is visable. With a transparent to black gradient you will have increasing levels or depths of black which will show as grey in the mask allowing increasing areas of visibility. You will get the effect you describe when using a black to white gradient. Are you sure you are using the black to transparent from the "gradient picker" drop down menu. When you apply your gradient are you dragging the whole width or height of the image? If so, just try dragging a centimetre or so from the bottom or edge of the image (with the mask active).
Not sure what you are trying to do with your last question.

HTH
MH

Mike:

Many thanks for the reply -

Ah, no - I was using the "Foreground to Background" -I see no "black to transparent " - is it to be had on the web ?

"Mike Hyndman" wrote in message

"art heyman" wrote in message

Fade to transparent gradient only works one side at a time ...I brought in a jpg, placed it on an enlarged canvas with a transparent background, clicked the "add layer mask" button (Why do I have to do this Adolbe ?) and got ONE side of the image to fade off into nothingness - but when I try to get the same effect on the other side of the image , the first side I did snaps back into being fully visible. Is ther any way to fade out all the side of an image ?

While I'm at this - when I try to do this in a layered PSD file , nothing works right - do I have to fade images one at a time and then bring them into a larger PSD ?

Art,

You need the layer mask to to provide the "base" for the graduation, it is the Alpha channel that supports the transparency. Where the mask is black the image is obscured and where the mask is white(same as painting with transparent) the image is visable. With a transparent to black gradient you will have increasing levels or depths of black which will show as grey in the mask allowing increasing areas of visibility. You will get the effect you describe when using a black to white gradient. Are you sure you are using the black to transparent from the "gradient picker" drop down menu.
When you apply your gradient are you dragging the whole width or height of the image? If so, just try dragging a centimetre or so from the bottom or edge of the image (with the mask active).
Not sure what you are trying to do with your last question.
HTH
MH

"art heyman" wrote in message

Mike:

Many thanks for the reply -

Ah, no - I was using the "Foreground to Background" -I see no "black to transparent " - is it to be had on the web ?

Art,

When you select the gradient tool you will see a horizontal window (under Image, Layer on the menu bar)on the options bar with an example of your gradient choice. To the right of this window is a down pointing arrow, click on this and you will be presented with other gradient presets, the second left is a foreground to transparent. See
http://www.planetphotoshop.com/tutorials/spivey3.html it's for PS6 but it is applicable to all flavours.

HTH
Mike H