Re: Fading to transparent

Geoff wrote:
> 
> I need help on what should be a simple thing to do in PSP 7.04 but despite
> Googling, I can't find the answer.

Some honing of Googling skills might be indicated but before you
worry about that, bookmark this http://campratty.com/questions.html
Then check out Classic Question no. 19. There are many other useful
bits and pieces there too.

> I want to use a picture (say 600 wide  x 100 pixcels high) and fade it
from
> a normal contrast on the left finishing up as complete transparency on the
> right.

You don't want to fade from "normal contrast" to complete
transparency. Instead I think you want to fade from full opacity
at one side of the image to full transparency at the opposite
side. Look at the instructions for a gradient-filled mask here
http://campratty.com/1faq/faqpages/a19.html
Once you have done this you can delete the mask while merging
it with the layer. This converts the transparency created by
the mask into regular layer transparency.
 
> I haven't used PSP for many years and have forgotten what to do.

It's easy to do. Here is some additional information you won't
find in the link, which allows you to control where the 50%
transition between opaque and transparent lies along your image
and how abrupt or gentle that transition is.

A. Do Window > Duplicate to make a copy of your image.
B. Use Flood Fill to fill the duplicate image with a black to
   white gradient.
C. Use Colors > Histogram Tools > Histogram Adjustment to tweak
   this duplicate image. The Gamma setting moves the transition
   left and right. (Values less than 1.00 move it left.) The
   Midtone Compress/Expand control modifies the nature of the
   transition, compression making it more gradual and expansion
   making it more abrupt.
D. Do Edit > Copy.
E. Make your original image with its mask active and make sure
   that Masks > Edit is on.
F. Do Selections > Select All on the original image and then
   Edit > Paste > Into Selection. This replaces the contents of
   the mask with your tweaked gradient image so you have more
   control over what the mask does. (Unfortunately it is not
   possible to edit the mask directly in the way in PSP 7, though
   it can be done in later versions.)

You can also get some of the same control by tweaking the gradient
you use for filling the mask. However, this means you have to be
familiar with how to use the gradient editor, and becoming familiar
with that could be a distraction for you. Help is available inside
the Gradient Editor dialog box if you want to try that.

I need help on what should be a simple thing to do in PSP 7.04 but despite 
Googling, I can't find the answer.
I want to use a picture (say 600 wide  x 100 pixcels high) and fade it from 
a normal contrast on the left finishing up as complete transparency on the 
right.

I haven't used PSP for many years and have forgotten what to do.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Geoff. 

"Spandex Rutabaga" <SpRu@agabatur.xednaps> wrote in message 
news:476AB9B1.89B1C600@agabatur.xednaps...
>
> Geoff wrote:
>>
>> I need help on what should be a simple thing to do in PSP 7.04 but 
>> despite
>> Googling, I can't find the answer.
>
> Some honing of Googling skills might be indicated but before you
> worry about that, bookmark this http://campratty.com/questions.html
> Then check out Classic Question no. 19. There are many other useful
> bits and pieces there too.
>
>> I want to use a picture (say 600 wide  x 100 pixcels high) and fade it

>> from
>> a normal contrast on the left finishing up as complete transparency on

>> the
>> right.
>
> You don't want to fade from "normal contrast" to complete
> transparency. Instead I think you want to fade from full opacity
> at one side of the image to full transparency at the opposite
> side. Look at the instructions for a gradient-filled mask here
> http://campratty.com/1faq/faqpages/a19.html
> Once you have done this you can delete the mask while merging
> it with the layer. This converts the transparency created by
> the mask into regular layer transparency.
>
>> I haven't used PSP for many years and have forgotten what to do.
>
> It's easy to do. Here is some additional information you won't
> find in the link, which allows you to control where the 50%
> transition between opaque and transparent lies along your image
> and how abrupt or gentle that transition is.
>
> A. Do Window > Duplicate to make a copy of your image.
> B. Use Flood Fill to fill the duplicate image with a black to
>   white gradient.
> C. Use Colors > Histogram Tools > Histogram Adjustment to tweak
>   this duplicate image. The Gamma setting moves the transition
>   left and right. (Values less than 1.00 move it left.) The
>   Midtone Compress/Expand control modifies the nature of the
>   transition, compression making it more gradual and expansion
>   making it more abrupt.
> D. Do Edit > Copy.
> E. Make your original image with its mask active and make sure
>   that Masks > Edit is on.
> F. Do Selections > Select All on the original image and then
>   Edit > Paste > Into Selection. This replaces the contents of
>   the mask with your tweaked gradient image so you have more
>   control over what the mask does. (Unfortunately it is not
>   possible to edit the mask directly in the way in PSP 7, though
>   it can be done in later versions.)
>
> You can also get some of the same control by tweaking the gradient
> you use for filling the mask. However, this means you have to be
> familiar with how to use the gradient editor, and becoming familiar
> with that could be a distraction for you. Help is available inside
> the Gradient Editor dialog box if you want to try that.
>


Many many thanks,  that's exactly what I wanted.

Geoff.