Gradient for Transparency

PROF VAUGHN: Okay, and this video is at
using a gradient as a transparency mask.

So we think of layer masks as revealing or
concealing using black or white paint,

and a range of grays.

We can use a gradient that is set from
black to white to create a really subtle

blend inside of a layer mask.

This gives you a lot of blending
opportunity.

So let's do a really obvious example
first, I have a colour photograph open,

I'm just gonna do a layer adjustment,
adjustment layer, I'll do it black and

white so you can have a quick view of how
this might work.

So of course we know our adjustment
layers come with gradients.

This is the effect, this is the- I'm
sorry, they come with a layer mask.

That is the layer mask.

So if we wanted to use a gradient to
blend in the layer mask as a method of

transparency blending, you could still
use that gradient tool.

When you look at your gradients, you're
gonna pick the black and white

version here.

So this is black and white.

Whether or not you reverse it is up to you,
remember the way a gradient in a mask

with black and white will work;
black is going to reveal,

white is going to conceal.

So, let's just do, um, let's do a radial
gradient to see what this might look like.

I'm gonna click and drag, now remember
I've made sure I'm on the layer

mask thumbnail.

So this is isolated, it's a pretty small
gradient, let's make it a little bit bigger.

And it's pretty soft, but you can see I've
got black and white now here in the middle

radiating out in my layer mask.

If you wanted to do a really weird, kind
of, small spot, you could.

Let's look at a linear gradient, now
I've sort of moved from black and white,

shifted it slowly into colour, because again
the black and white in the layer mask is

revealing of concealing, so the white in
this case is showing what's underneath.

So that is a a adjustment layer.

If we were thinking about using these, um,
to perhaps make some actual editing

adjustments, we could think about not
using them for creative purpose, but for

perhaps fixing an exposure issue.

So in this particular image, the land is
well exposed, it has good contrast, but

the sky, because the sun is probably over
here somewhere, is a little too bright.

It's a little bit blown out, we're losing
out