PSE 4 fading to transparent

[Coomkeen]

Hi,
New to Photoshop so no idea how to do this.
All I need to do is make a linear fade on a photo to transparent.

I imagine it's got something to do with layers and masks, but although I've found layers, there's no mask anywhere.

Please help.

Ron

[jo]

In PSE you can "borrow" a mask by creating an adjustment layer and not making any adjustments.

Or you can look for Grant's tools. It's free and he has a mask that you can use directly on a layer.

And be sure to copy the layer before you make any changes. If you leave the background layer alone you can always go back to it if you don't like what you did in the new layers.

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Hi,
New to Photoshop so no idea how to do this.
All I need to do is make a linear fade on a photo to transparent.

I imagine it's got something to do with layers and masks, but although I've found layers, there's no mask anywhere.

Please help.

Ron
Hi Ron,

First, let me welcome you to Elements Village (EV), the best place on the Internet for all things Photoshop Elements (PSE). It is the friendliest site with helpful "Villagers" ready to answer your every question.

I must admit that I am not an expert here, but this is the technique explained in Scott Kelby's book, The Photoshop Elements 5 Book for Digital Photographers, page 312.

1/ Bring up a picture that you want to fade.

2/ Since this image will arrive in the workspace as a "Background" you need to convert it to a layer: Layer > New > Layer from Background.

3/ You need to have a blank layer below your image: Layer > New > Layer. Now drag this new layer in the palette bin from on top of your image to a position below your image.

4/ Now here is the key step. You must group your image with the blank layer below it. Layer > Group with Previous (<ctrl>G). Your image vanishes, but do not fret.

5/ Choose the Gradient tool from the Toolbox. In the option bar use the down facing triangle to pick the second gradient type, Foreground to Transparent.

6/ Make sure that the foreground color is black. Make sure that the blank layer has focus. That is its object in the Palette Bin has color and is selected. If you miss this step, it will not work.

7/ With the cursor in the workspace draw a horizontal line from the beginning of the fade zone to the end. Your layer will now fade starting from the beginning of the zone to the end. Everything past the end will be transparent.

Let us know if this works for you.

Cheers,

Bob

[sagasu44]

Hi, complete newbie here.
I am attempting to create an image that fades to transparent in order to place on a solid background.
I have followed the instructions above and have created an image that fades beautifully, BUT, it fades into a blue background.
How can I get rid of the blue element and make this section truly tansparent so it can be placed on any background and blend in?
I have attached what I have so far 3017

[lindylou50]

Hi, complete newbie here.
I am attempting to create an image that fades to transparent in order to place on a solid background.
I have followed the instructions above and have created an image that fades beautifully, BUT, it fades into a blue background.
How can I get rid of the blue element and make this section truly tansparent so it can be placed on any background and blend in?
I have attached what I have so far 3017


I think you have to set your default colours to black and white first