Adobe Photoshop 7.0: Image Transparency with a gradient

This page demonstrates one way to create a gradient which fades an image to transparency using Adobe Photoshop. This technique can be used to fade an image into the background color or another image, text, etc.

Create a photoshop file with two layers - one blank and the other containing the image to be made transparent. Select the image's layer. Click the Add layer mask icon at the bottom of the layers palette. A layer mask is created in the image layer.

Select the gradient tool and apply a gradient to the image layer by dragging the mouse from where you want the gradient to start to where you want it to finish..

In the example below, a gradient is applied to the photo from right to left.

(1) The original image.		(2) With the gradient applied, you can see the checkered pattern which indicates the blank layer.
(3) To fade the photo to white, fill the blank layer with solid white.		(4) To fade the photo into another image, place the second image in a layer below the photo.
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Last modified: 2006-12-22