Transparent Gradient Adjustment Layer

I would like to create an adjustment layer (so I can easily tweak it later) that creates the exact same effect as a gradient tool in the follwing example. I for the life of me can't figure out how to do it, maybe it's just not possible...
Using the gradient tool to create a mask I can easily get this result (note the gradient fades the image but maintains a transparent background):
Using a gradient adjustment layer I am forced to choose a color (white to transparent) and I get this:
I want the the former (transparent fade) so I can easily drop it over any color background later, but I want to later so I can easily adjust the % of fade later.
Is there any way to make a gradient adjustment layer fade to transparent? I thought maybe some combination of layer blending would accomplish it, but haven't been able to figure it out. I'm trying to keep it simple, but it's ok if the solution is a little complicated as I plan to automate it into an action that'll be applied to dozens, maybe hundreds, of images.

»Is there any way to make a gradient adjustment layer fade to transparent?«
Obviously, because that’s what Your gradient is – white from 100% opacity to 0%.
Transparency is a feature of the layer, its blending settings, clipping masks, any masks applied to it or the containing groups … – so it cannot be added »on top«, as You seem to assume.
If I understand correctly You want to use it as a mask for another layer.
One way to achieve that would be to place the gradient (X% opacity to Y%) below the layer You want to mask, convert it to a Smart Object (or rasterize it), set its Fill to 0%, turn off Blend Clipped Layers as a Group in the Blending Options and create a Clipping Mask (alt-click on the line between the gradient and the layer above in the Layers Panel).
Changing the fade would then necessitate opening the SO and making the changes there, so convenience-wise that’s not so great.
But maybe someone else has a better idea.
Incidentally: Your screenshot seems to indicate that You don’t make use of Smart Objects to automatically update the »reflection« with the upper object and You might want to consider it.

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Gradient adjustment layer

Hi,
I'm new to adjustment layers. I'm able to make such layers now, but when selecting gradient and selecting "align with layer" option, it actually aligns with the whole document, not just the layer. When I click between the adjustment layer and the image layer while holding ALT, the gradient is out of view.
How can I have a full gradient on one particular layer?
-Ron

The align with layer seems to only work if you have a selection when you create the gradient fill layer, or the gradient fill layer is limited by it's own layer mask. Holding the alt key down and clicking between the gradient fill layer and a lower layer will clip the gradient fill layer to that layer, and the gradient will only show where the underlying had some visibility. Doing this will not change the way the gradient fill layer is applyed by using the align with layer. You would need to make a selection of the underlying layer and apply that selection to the gradient fill layer's mask. Seems like it should work with a clipping mask, but it doesn't seem to do that.

Grouping Adjustment layer with Gradient Fill layer

Page 151 of "The Missing Manual" suggests that one should be able to group a Levels Adjustment layer with a Gradient Fill layer so that the levels adjustment fades out to one side.
If I understand this correctly, the setup would be:
Levels Adjustment Layer (grouped with layer below)
Gradient Fill layer (with a gradient from Opaque to Transparent)
Photo in Background layer
but I cannot get the desired effect of original picture on one side blending through to adjusted levels on the other.
I can get the desired effect if I dispense with the Gradient Fill layer and simply manually create the gradient on the mask of the Levels Adjustment layer but this loses the advantage of easy adjustment of the gradient.
[Thanks to those who answered my question about linking a mask to a layer. As this is a separate query, I thought it best to start a new topic]

Sanders1,
I thought I'd try it, myself, and got results that I did not expect...
http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1OVdT0C7oX46DsPm6TrfT5xxrm3h
1 - The background image.
2 - I created a Gradient Fill layer using color (red) to transparent.
3 - I created a Levels Adjustment layer, set to reduce red and green,
leaving a blue image.
4 - I grouped the Levels Adjustment layer with the Gradient Fill layer.
Is this the type of result you are seeing? I wonder what is the logic.
Byron

Using Gradient Map Adjustment Layer to Emulate Curves

In PSE 4, the Curves function isn't available, either natively or via add-on
tools. Personally, I like adding a modest S-curve to many of my photos to
improve the contrast. Oh, well...
I remember, however, that Susan Stewart (one of the early members of this
forum) had developed a technique to use the Gradient Map Adjustment Layer as
a curves surrogate. I'm not sure exactly what she did, but I believe it
involved using the black-to-white gradient and setting the layer blend mode
to Overlay. The gradient can be modified by adding Color Stops along the
continuum between black and white to create the S-shape.
Anyone have any experience with this approach - or another Curves
replacement to consider?
Thanks,
Chuck

Chuck,
It involves using the Luminosity blend mode. Here's a PDF that gives instructions. Skip down to Version two page 3 or 4 for instructions on using a gradient map to simulate curves.
http://books.elsevier.com/companions/0240519566/pdfs/curves.pdf
Terri

Probelms with PS CS5 - Cant add a transparent gradient layer mask to a layer - please help

My company just upgraded us to cs5 on our macs. I was working along in photoshop & dont know if I hit something inadvertently or what but all of a sudden I cannot add a black to transp gradient to a layer mask. Ive searched around even saved out and re-loaded the gradients from my pc (which has the black to transparent gradient in the gradient editor & the process works fine).
Funny thing is that in the mac gradient picker, the black to transparent gradient is black and solid white but the name of it is 'black to transparent' in the editor. Ive tried
I guess my questions would be how would one make a transparent gradient, or how would one reset the gradients to default becuase every time i delete all the gradients the add a new .grd file from my pc, it still does not show the gradient.
Its amazing how such a small thing like this saves so much time and its eating me up that I cant get this to work
Thanks in advance, Mark

C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4\Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings
This is where I finally found the prefs.psp file. At least this is the way my Vista machinie is set up. Your "User" config may be diferrent from mine.
But, Thanks for the right answer!. My transparent layer is now only showing the faint gray checkboard instead of black.
Rob_L

Applying an adjustment layer / or adjustment TO a layer in a grayscale image is NOT happening!

I'm a long time user of Photoshop, but must admit to being stumped here. I have a very high resolution scanned image from a B&W antique engraving, and I'm trying to "open up" some of the lines to bring out the details in the engraved image while keeping the image as close to the "line art" B&W of the original as possible.
I have the image now "cleaned up," having taken out the yellow color casts, etc., and have a grayscale 8-Bit image in the Photoshop file.
I've discovered that I can use an adjustment TO the layer itself, or an adjustment layer on the layer in the grayscale image to take away some of the density and "open up" the line art a little, so it has better details by effectively "choking" the dark lines back to make them less thick and dense.
Here's the thing, though:
When I tried making the adjustments via image > adjustments > levels DIRECTLY ON the layer (instead of using and adjustment layer to achieve this), every time I hit the OK button to accept the adjustments I've made that way, the dialog box closes and the layer seems to revert to looking just the same as it did BEFORE I opened the dialog box to adjust the layer!
When I try making the adjustments by using an adjustment LAYER, and I try to save the Photoshop image as a TIFF file, I find that when I open the saved TIFF image, the layer adjustment I'm seeing in the source Photoshop file has NOT been applied, and the image in the saved TIFF file looks just as dense as the original, unadjusted image in the Photoshop file!
What am I doing wrong here? I want to be able to save out that adjusted image as a TIFF file to use in designs, but I cannot seem to save it as a TIFF that actually CONTAINS or reflects these adjustments after having MADE the adjustments!
Whazzup?!!

Well, I took the layered TIFF file you gave to me and opened it in Photoshop, reviewed the adjustment layer in there and its effect -- thanks: you get what I was trying to do -- and then saved it out as a flat TIFF image, and when I reopened it, voila! it looked like the adjustment had indeed been applied. So this IS a real head-scratcher indeed.
I've now tried going back to my source file and doing the same thing. One thing that I notice is that when I do the Save As of the TIFF with the adjustment layer in it (OR the PSD file, for that matter), when I go to Save YOUR file, the Layer Compression Options are grayed out, but when I go to Save MY file, the Layer Compression Options are active. I've tried now saving both with RLE layer compression AND As a Copy ("discard layers and save a copy"), and neither works.
I noticed, too, that your file had the layer below the adjustment layer still as a "Background," instead of a named layer, so I went back and applied an adjustment layer to a copy of my TIFF file, leaving the image in its layer as a Background layer, and still this did not work.
The only other difference I saw between your TIFF file and mine, is that mine contained transparency, as I've silhouetted away a portion of the image to isolate the central image of the scanned engraving. But even when transparency is not a factor (i.e. I go back and start with a flattened, nontransparent image layer of my TIFF file with a single Background Layer, and I apply the adjustment layer to that, I get the compression options grayed out on Save, and STILL the saved TIFF image I get out of it has "reverted" to the unadjusted appearance.

PS 2014 Foreground to transparent (gradient problems)

Adobe Photoshop 2014
Files:
PSD                                Clock, Gradient line
DOCX, MHTML, PDF                   PS Foreground to transparent gradient
SWF                                2014-06-26_1509
PNG                                Clock (original), Clock (gradient), Clock (masked), PS 1, PS 2, PS 3
Foreground to transparent gradient
Foreground to Transparent will not work by simply clicking 'OK' and dragging mouse across a selected layer. This gradient tool is hyper sensitive, and unstable.
We tried to record the PS method for our gradient. Jing was our first choice, but Jing’s flash engine conflicts with the PS flash engine, blocking the gradient tool’s drag action. Jing can only record steps prior to the final drag-and-drop gradient action. Cam is rendered useless by HDR displays’ high resolution, causing glare white-out. Here is our visible work-flow.
>>
1. Select Gradient Tool on left toolbar, open tool group and select 'Foreground to transparent' tool.
Occasionally, next close and reopen PS 2014 (stubborn gradient problems).
>
When PS 2014 reopens, the specific gradient tool remains selected. This clears some aspects of the PS 2014 cache, which sometimes help.
Notice that selected left tool bar button momentarily changes to Eyedropper, when Gradient Editor opens! A hint of what follows.
2. Select a layer to apply gradient to, this selected layer is the gradient tool's "Foreground". However, gradient is applied in ‘reverse’ (see below, 5).
3. Panels bottom bar, click mask button to 'Add a layer mask', then ‘Filter for pixel layers’ and ‘Add a vector mask' -

This may also help!
                Using only Add layer mask may indiscriminately result the following:
- Stressing here the words "may indiscriminately"...
when PS 2014 is unstable, adding actions when Layer mask alone fails, may (often) be stabilizing enough to make gradient work...
once PS 2014 begins performing Foreground to transparent gradients, then simply begin creating new transparency gradients when PS 2014 re-opens,
or just click Add layer mask to get going again;
- Layer mask alone may suffice, or it may slightly penetrate underlying layers with partial transparency, and/or…
- May convert transparent background to a foreground 'Color to transparent' gradient in opposite direction to (reversed) Foreground to transparent gradient;
- Exact/intended layer vs. vector behaviors are unknown, though each provides unique creative applications, in isolation and when used together;
- Use a new PSD file dedicated just to Foreground to transparent gradient. This quickly resolves inevitable multiple layer-and-tool conflicts.
4. Layers panel top bars, click ‘Lock transparent pixels’ and then click 'Filter for pixel layers'. These actions help focus PS 2014 on the current work-flow. Though given this gradient’s obvious corruption, it cannot be said that any method is specific, or repeatable. We are now stepping beyond the sometimes sufficient Add layer mask, experimenting with gradient line attempts as we go.
5. Finally, we will drag from point A to point B in workspace, resulting gradient with greatest transparency at A-side of selected layer. Click workspace anywhere and drag across selected layer: this creates a straight, dashed gradient line. When the mouse button is released at point B, the dashed line vanishes and the gradient is applied. Release mouse button where you want gradient to end. Note that the endpoint B inside of layer object will fade into opaque towards point B, right up to the B-side edge of the layer object. PS 2014 auto-renders an even gradient. Extending beyond object renders opacity curve with midpoint transparency closer to full opacity B-side of gradient line. This gradient tool, in its current structure, performs in reverse and should be renamed to Transparent to foreground: starting Point A is the transparent side of the gradient line!
6. Ctrl-Z or history to undo Foreground to transparent gradient (s). Experiment until it looks best. Multiple gradients can be applied from any direction. Occasionally, once PS 2014 has established effective (reversed) Foreground to transparent gradient behavior or behaviors (?... not sure what's going on there), then closing and reopening PS 2014, one can immediately begin to create new (reversed) Foreground to transparent gradients... without any masking or other workspace preparation!
Office 365 32-bit and PS 2014 64-bit conflict. When image pasted from PS into Word 365, Office pastes image as ‘Object’. Pasted object is distorted as square dimensions are vertically stretched 150% to offset square dimensions – e.g., 2px x 4px PS 2014 copied image layer becomes 2px x 6px Word image “Object”. Also, pasted objects cannot be formatted in any way. Re-sizing is not possible! This dimension distortion and formatting conflict does not arise in Office 64-bit; however, Microsoft will discourage (even withdraw support) as the bulk of corporate clients deploy Office as 32-bit software. PS 2014 is set to Maximize Compatibility.
- - Riverleaf digital publishing, summer 2014

Save each layer to a file but take care of a top set HUE Adjustment Layer

Hello,
I am using a PS script to save each layer as a png image to disk. It is a modified Adobe PS Script - based on the "Export Layer to File"- script. The script is working fine - however when I use an HUE Adjustment Layer the settings are not rendered into the images. I have a PS CS4 document with 110 layers and 1 HUE adjustment layer at the top of all those layers to modify the color of all layers at once. I need to save all the 110 layers to disk INCLUDING the changes in the adjustment layer. The layers are stored in 55 Layersets. Each Layerset has 2 Layers. The adjustment layer is on top of all layer sets.
At the moment, when I start the script the images will be saved without the adjustment layer settings. How can I do it - in general - to apply either the adjustment layer to all my layers upfront in PS (render into image) - or apply the adjustment layer to each layer when the layer image is saved to disk using the script. Again, I have only 1 Adjustment Layer at the top of all my layers/layersets.
Thanks for any hint!

Is this something like you want?
var Name = app.activeDocument.name.replace(/\.[^\.]+$/, '');
var Path = decodeURI(app.activeDocument.path);
for(var a =0;a<activeDocument.layerSets.length;a++){
    for(var z = 0;z<app.activeDocument.layerSets[a].layers.length;z++){
activeDocument.activeLayer = app.activeDocument.layerSets[a].layers[z];
addToSelection(activeDocument.layers[0].name)
dupLayers("Temp");
var saveFile = File(Path +"/"+Name+"-"+a+"-"+z+".png");
SavePNG(saveFile);
app.activeDocument.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
function addToSelection(LName){
    var desc8 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var ref6 = new ActionReference();
        ref6.putName( charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), LName );
    desc8.putReference( charIDToTypeID('null'), ref6 );
    desc8.putEnumerated( stringIDToTypeID('selectionModifier'), stringIDToTypeID('selectionModifierType'), stringIDToTypeID('addToSelection') );
    desc8.putBoolean( charIDToTypeID('MkVs'), false );
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function dupLayers(newDoc) {
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function SavePNG(saveFile){
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Adjustment layer applied to part of image applies it to whole image?

I make a selection around some white teeth and I want to add some yellow to them. I make a new hue/saturation adjustment layer and want to just change this new layer, though for some reason, it is applying the change to the whole image. It is also doing this when I try to do a Levels adjustment layer to the selection I made into a new layer.
What am I doing wrong?
Thanks.

Probably the selection simply contained a ton of semi-transparent pixels. Nothing stops you from adjusting the layer mask post-facto, though - it is just that, after all and can be painted on or mangled with modal adjustments by itself like any otehr layer mask. Try that....
Mylenium

Adjustment layer blur from AE to PP using dynamic link

Hi there. I'm having trouble with a project I bring into PP from AE via dynamic link.
Here's the problem. On my AE project, I have an adjustment layer with lens blur added to it. I also have a track matte assigned to that adjustment layer, because I have a specific shape in which I want the blur to be applied. Works fine in AE.
However, when I bring the project into PP, the adjustment layer's blur is not applied to anything in PP. It does show up as a blur on animations I created in AE, but is not applied to any footage dropped under it in PP.
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If it helps to understand, the project is a lower third animation. The goal is to not only have it a little transparent but also slightly blur whatever footage is behind it, only in the area of the lower third.
Any help is much appreciated!

The export settings in PrPro should be ok, since they are the same ones I use for every other project. I did notice that the Max Render Quality checkbox was unchecked though. I just don't know why with the preview settings at max it still looks blurry. I have noticed that if I close down the project and reopen it, the problem might go away.
I have tried exporting in AME, but sometimes the encoder just freezes up and won't render it. Again, another random issue. Not sure why that happens. (Though I recently learned about how to clean the cache and haven't tried exporting the project since then.
I don't know if this will help or not, but what I do is align the footage up in PrPro and then use AE to import the footage. After getting everything the way it should, I use Dynamic Link in PrPro and pull in the AE file.
I would assemble everything in AE, but the source material is P2 footage and AE doesn't have a viewer to differenate between all the clips.
And to make sure for all clarity purposes, I can not reppplicate this problem. It seems to come and go as it wants, almost as if my machine is haunted.

Adjustment layer in Premiere?

Hi all,
I remember seeing a video where a Transparent/ black video/etc..was added to the above layer of all clips.
It would act as an adjustment layer.
I know I could Nest them, but that would mean I would loose the ability to move clips around unless I double click them.
I remember there was a way to add an adjustment layer in premiere.
Anyone know?
Thanks,
lou

> Then how would explain Adjustment Layers in AE and PS? Those are both
transparent layers to which you can apply effects and change the values
of pixels in layers below.
FWIW, the way that an adjustment layer works in After Effects is that it takes the composited/rendered result of the layers beneath it as input and then operates on that single input just as if it were any other layer. A lot of people misunderstand, thinking that the adjustment layer is somehow reaching down into those underlying layers and affecting each of them individually. In fact, the way that most people explain adjustment layers is to say that "applying an effect to an adjustment layer applies the effect to all of the layers beneath the adjustment layer". As you can tell from my explanation of how they actually work, this isn't quite right. Also, you can see how applying an effect to a nested sequence is doing almost exactly the same thing as applying an effect to an adjustment layer.

Adjustment Layer Problem

My Sepia and other options have disappeared in
LAYER > NEW ADJUSTMENT LAYER > PHOTO FILTER > OK.
They've been replaced by a bunch of numbers and letters.
I have version 4 on Mac OS X and can't figure out how to reload
the original filters.
This seamed to have happened after I'd played around with Gradient Maps.
Thanks So Much to anyone who can help!

Quit PSE, then relaunch it while holding down command+option+shift. Keep holding the keys till you see a message asking if you want to delete the settings file. You do.
I'd also repair permissions.

Adjustment Layer is a white solid

I am having a very strange issue adding an adjustment layer I can't resolve. I have added adjustment layers thousands of times, but have never had this happen. I am using CS5 and in one of my comps when I add an adjustment layer it appears as a white solid instead of the usual completely transparent adjustment layer. Even when I copy and paste an adjustment layer that is appearing correctly from another layer, that pasted one behaves the same way and simply becomes a white solid. I have quit AE just to see if it was weird hiccup, but that comp still behaves them same way.
Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone know what is going on?

Thanks for the replies you guys. It's not hardware related Mylenium. My machine was purpose built for AE work and this is a very simple comp that is nothing remotely as intensive as some of the truly complex and effects ladened projects I've done before. It's even simpler than the one in the same project where the other adjustment layer is working properly. The layer is going white before an effect is even being added, so it's not that. I'll double check the OpenGL when I can get back on my machine in a bit, but I never changed anything before changing comps, so I don't think that's it.
I'm guessing that it is probably related to the layer settings itself. There's no 3D layers so it's not that Dave. I'm going to check Rick's idea when I can because the white solid behavior sounds exactly what he is talking about.

Transparent gradient in Keynote?

How does one make a transparent gradient of a shape in Keynote—a shape that is completely opaque on one side and completely transparent on the opposite side?

Draw then select the shape
Inspector > Format > Style > Fill > Advanced Gradient Fill (the Inspector is the side panel on the right)
Click on one of the two colour fill sliders to show the Colour Wheel
Drag the Opacity slider all the way down
lastly, in the advanced gradient fill, drag the colour fill slider that has the transparency set, drag the slider towards the centre to adjust the opacity from left to right

Can you make an adjustment layer only affect specific layers?

I'd like to use adjustment layers to affect some layers in my project, but not have them change every layer underneath. Is there a way to make an ajudstment layer only affect a specific layer (or layers)?
Thanks.

To make an Adjustment Layer only affect the layer directly beneath it, hold down
Alt, and move the cursor between the Adjustment Layer and the underlying layer. When the cursor changes into two overlapping circles, click.
This will use the underlying layer's transparency as a mask for the effect. In other words, it will only apply the adjustment to the underlying layer.

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