This will add a graduated multiply mask to your photo:

1) Open layers pallette. Duplicate your background layer by draging the background layer to the page icon, then set its mode to multiply. The photo will darke overall.

2) With new layer still selected, click on the mask icon (circle in rectangle) at the bottom of the layers window to add a mask to the multiply layer. Photo window should say "Background Copy, Layer Mask" at the top. If "Layer Mask" doesn't appear at the top go back to the layers pallette and on the mask in the multiply layer to activate it.

3) Select the gradient tool from the main tool bar. It shares an icon position with the paint bucket. If you see the paint bucket just click and scroll to get the gradient icon. In the top of the gradient toolbar select the gradient that goes from foreground to transparent (foreground to background seems to work too). The "transparent" box on the tool bar should be selected.

3) Draw a line from top to just under the horizon / sky border. This will create a mask on the multiply layer which shields the bottom section of the photo from the darkening effect of multiply. You can vary the effect by changing the type of gradient and the positon and direction you draw the gradient line. You can fine tune the effect via the opacity slider on the multiply layer.

Extra credit:

If you want to permanently apply the mask to the multiply layer, go to the layers pallette, select the mask, then drag it to the trashcan icon on the layers pallette. PS will ask: "Apply mask to layer before removing?" Click the "Apply" button. Why would you want to do this? It allows you to edit the multiply layer with the eraser or other tools. Often I'll do an initial multiply mask, dupe it, then erase parts of the duped layer to further darken specific areas (the ones not erased).

Chuck Gardner


UncleMikey wrote:
> Can anyone tell me how to make a graduated (opacity) layer in PS?
> What I want to do is to make a layer (like a curves layer or even a
> duplicate layer) that has graduated opacity from top to bottom. I
> would use it on shots that needed darkening at the top but no
> adjustment at the bottom - like landscape shots.