Gradient tool! Help!!

[Megan Turnidge]

I am having a really hard time with the gradient tool and using it to fade my photo into the BG. I was just hired by a professional photographer to design his albums and I'm needing to learn techniques I'd never use when scrapping! lol So, here's the example of what I'm trying to achieve:

I have PSE 5, so I DL'ed Grant's Tools for the layer mask. I created a layer mask on that BG photo and selected my gradient tool and tried to blend the edge, but I keep getting these really bad, noticeable vertical lines. It's not a gradual fade... it's "stepped." How do I smooth it out? I have no clue!! TIA!

 

[newfiemountiewife]

I would just use a lasso on over the edge of the photo and however far in you want it to go. Put the feather on 50 or so, then just delete the selection.

That's how I do that, if you want more/less you can change the feather up or down.

I'm barely awake so let me know if that doesn't make any sense. LOL

 

[Megan Turnidge]

Thanks! I finally figured it out.... it's not even in my list of options when I open up the edit for the tool... i had to click on "more" and load the smooth gradient because it wasn't a default. Weird.

 

[ColleenSwerb]

Well then let's see it!

So, you're making albums for people's weddings? How flippin cool is that! How'd you work out a deal like that?

 

[Megan Turnidge]

Well then let's see it!

So, you're making albums for people's weddings? How flippin cool is that! How'd you work out a deal like that?

I know! It is such an awesome gig!!! He goes to my church and he's been keeping an eye on my albums on facebook and on my blog and knew I know my way around Photoshop and he asked me to start designing his albums. He doesn't want to do it any more. I'm starting off at $9 per page. Sweet deal! (30-60 page albums) Plus, these pages take WAY less time than scrapping since they have to be clean and simple. I'm saving up for a DSLR now... will trade every now and then for photography! :thumbup:

Here's my page with the fade I was going for:

And here's another page, no gradient but thought I'd show it anyways....

 

[ColleenSwerb]

Dude. I totally need a gig like that.

The pages look great hon