Does anyone know how to make a clean, linear gradient across a PNG? I saw the tools for vector in the "Style" window, but it seemed like I was restricted to layer shading for a PNG.
Is that right or did I miss a cool feature to help with this?
What I'd do is create a vector layer, put it on top of your PNG, then set a linear gradient in a rectangle shape the same size as your newsprint, set the vector layer to multiply, and set the alpha of the one side of the gradient to 0 so that its see-through (gradient goes from dark to see-through) then play with the layer opacity of the vector layer.
So you're making a shape on a new layer, filling that with a gradient, setting the blending mode to multiply. Not really touching anything to do with the PNG layer itself.
That's happening because you're applying a shadow to the layer (the PNG), and the PNG is rectangular...so your gradient will be rectangular too.
There are several ways you could achieve this effect, but the one I just did was:
1. Import your PNG as a layer.
2. Create a new vector layer and place it on top of the PNG layer.
3. In the vector layer, create a solid black rectange with a circular hole cut in it (see the user guide to learn how to create shapes with holes).
4. Edit the vector layer's properties to add a high blur radius (eg. 50)
This blurs the black rectangle into the cut-out circle, giving a nice circular fade around the newsprint. To tweak the effect, change the opacity of the vector layer, add a gradient to it, etc.
Very cool... I just did a sort of hybrid of both of your explanations, and it's working marvelously... This also indirectly (I think) answers another question I had - I can move that vector layer in the timeline, and indicate a sun going down behind a city for instance? Very cool...
