How to create an OPACITY Gradient?

First, thanks to Andy Mees, whose very handy Gradient Filter I've just added to my FCP Effects arsenal. It came from this thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1526509&tstart=45
What I was actually searching for though is slightly different. Specifically:
Is there a way (an existing FCP feature; a clever workflow; or a 3rd party plug-in) to manipulate the opacity of a clip spatially, separate from the current ability to control a clip's overall opacity temporally (by keyframing different values)?
In other words, is there a way I can define (in both shape and size) an *opacity gradient* for a given clip?
As an example, let's say an effect where the clip's opacity progresses smoothly from 80% on the left edge of frame to just 10% opacity on the right edge -- allowing any video layer(s) beneath that clip to be very visible near the right edge of frame, but barely visible the closer you look to the left edge of frame.
Just to be clear: I'm not wanting to change the darkness or lightness (or color) of part of the clip in the way you normally think of a gradient operating -- just the opacity, but over a flexibly-definable gradient. Ideally, this opacity gradient could be linear or radial (or even other shapes?), with both its shape, and the opacity values assigned to its beginning and end points, all keyframe-able.
So -- does anything like this ability already exist (and am I going to exclaim "D'oh!" when I hear what it is), or is this an effect which is easier asked-for than achieved?
Thanks,
John Bertram
Toronto

Sure...
Create a Custom Gradient from the "A" (viewer window) RENDER - Custom Gradient.
Create one that goes from BLACK to WHITE left to right.
Change the BLACK color luma slider to something around 80% black and the WHITE color luma slider to something 10% White (or 10% black if you want to get technical!!)
THEN...
Put video in V1 and the gradient in V2 and the second level of video in V3. Right Click (control click) the V3 video and set it's COMPOSITE MODE to Travel Matte - Luma.
Remember, the BLACKER it is the more will show thru from the bottom layer.
Best of luck...
CaptM

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import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.geom.*;
import java.awt.image.*;
import java.util.*;
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import javax.swing.event.*;
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> Isn't that to be expected though? From my admittedly limited understanding, the gradient being saved is really just a sequence of colour stops. I would have thought since the angle of the gradient is more of a property of how its applied to the path (or whatever) that it wouldn't make sense to save it on the gradient colour.
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