Fading Photos...

This reader asks: "How do I gradually fade a photo to nothing?"

... as many different ways as you like ...

Shari from Vermont, USA using XP professional and Photoshop CS writes...

> How do I gradually fade a 4 color photo out to nothing on only one side?

First you can use a Feathered Selection then simply delete - or fill with White.

See: Feathering Effects
or, The Gentle Art of Feathering

You could also use a Layer Mask.

Click the "Add a Mask" button at the bottom of the Layers Palette (Gray square, white circle) and observe the addition of the Mask icon to the currently active layer. Click that icon to select it.

Choose the Gradient button (Tap 'G' or Shift/G) and then in the options bar, click the Gradient Preset Picker and select the Foreground to Background gradient swatch.

Make sure your colors are Default (Tap 'D') and use the gradient tool to drag a gradient across the image. Remember that BLACK masks and hides the image and WHITE opens the mask and allows image to show through.

Adjust your Gradient by changing the starting point, ending point and distance you drag the tool across the window. Drag out gradients as many times as you like until you have it the way you want it.

To Modify the actual image, click on its Icon in the layer, and to re-edit your mask, click on its Icon in the layer.

There are other ways too... but these two should fill the bill.

:-) Happy masking