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Posted on 13/05/06 3:53:30 PM |
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mr.pbody
*** Posts: 138 Reply  |
how to make a transparent gradation...?
hi all! i have a head shot and i want to apply a transparent gradation to it, not sure how to do this. like 2/3rd's of the head would be seen and the last 1/3rd would be transparent with an even gradation going from solid to transparent. thanks! |
Posted on 13/05/06 5:33:02 PM |
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rufus
Destructive Demon Posts: 243 Reply  |
Re: how to make a transparent gradation...?
This is easily solved by using an alpha channel. I used the head of Born2Run for this demo (sorrry). Isolate the head from the background on a new layer and fill the background layer with white. On a new layer draw a gradient from black to white upwards over part of the head. Switch to the Channels palette, chose one of the channels, dupilcate it and name it 'alpha'. On the layers palette, delete the gradient layer as this is no longer needed. On the channels palette turn the alpha channel into a selection by Ctrl-clicking on the thumbnail. With the head layer active, press Delete on the keyboard and the lower half is deleted, (ie. head goes from full opacity to transparent). In an alpha channel black allows the full effect, white allows no effect and 50% grey allows 50% effect etc. rufus  |
Posted on 13/05/06 8:56:35 PM |
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Pierre
Constructional Confabulator Posts: 637 Reply  |
Re: how to make a transparent gradation...?
You can also use a variation on Rufus' technique. Isolate the head on a layer, then create a layer mask. Apply a gradient from black to transparent in the layer mask ( as opposed to Alpha channels, black is hiding the original, transparent is showing). I find this simpler, and you can come back and edit the layer mask; just make sure you've selected it by seeing the little frames in the corners of the thumbnail in the layer pallette.  _________________ |
Posted on 14/05/06 02:10:39 AM |
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mr.pbody
*** Posts: 138 Reply |
Re: how to make a transparent gradation...?
well, thank you both for responding and with such detailed explainations to go with them...but i still fail. lol! 
layer masking is more familiar to me so i'll go there if i may: -i isolate the head on a transparent background and make sure the layer is active, i've got that! but do you go to the top toolbar and choose layer/layer mask/(reveal all or hide all)??? i've tried that and i've tried the layer mask on the layers palette. either way i get the mask in the layers palette...but with the mask selected i can't make any gradation thing to happen. mask is selected, gradient tool selected, black to transparent(or whatever) but when i try to make gradient in mask window...nothing happens. if i click onto the head window in layers palette (next to mask) then i can put a gradient...but that isn't what i want is it??? thanks! |
Posted on 14/05/06 2:52:27 PM |
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mr.pbody
*** Posts: 138 Reply |
Re: how to make a transparent gradation...?
yeah, i got it! i'm such a dolt!!! i knew it had to be easy...as stupid as it may sound i forgot about the mode button for the gradient in the toolbar, hehehehe, silly me...it was set to screen. work, you damn thing! thanks again all for the help. and rufus going to give your way a go right now, always helpful to know more than one way to do this. i take it when you said to copy one of the channel layers and name it alpha it didn't matter which channel R,G, or B? |
Posted on 15/05/06 03:02:48 AM |
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Pierre
Constructional Confabulator Posts: 637 Reply |
Re: how to make a transparent gradation...?
Good to hear you figured it out! Another way to create a layer mask is in the layer palette. THird icon in the bottom (white circle in a square). It will add a layere mask to the layer that is active. To answer for Rufus,  R,G or B it does not matter. Another trick with the Alpha channels, is to skip the layer with the gradient all together. Create a new Channel (call it Whatever) and create the gradient directly there, with the same gradient tool. You can edit and paint Alpha channels as long as you use black and white (and greys), no colours.
Have fun experimenting, it is worth the brain ache ( it is for me at least  )
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