Transparent gradients

The gradient defines not only the colors of a layer, but also the transparency. An opacity value is 

associated with every color to make it more or less transparent. By default, all opacity values are set 

to 255, which makes them completely opaque.

Use the Opacity view to edit the opacity of the gradient. The opacity curve can be edited 

independently from the color curves (they do not necessarily share the same control points). To edit 

the curve, click on the Opacity view to activate it, and drag the control points, just like when you 

edit 

the color curves

. Drag a control point up to make it opaque, drag it down to make it transparent.

The pattern of blocks shows the transparency of the gradient. This pattern is also visible in the 

fractal window unless there is a layer below the current layer that is completely opaque, in which 

case the underlying layer is shown.

Many gradient commands work only on the active curve or curves. For example, when the opacity 

curve is active, the Smooth Curves command (click Smooth Curves on the Gradient menu) will 

adjust the curvature of the opacity curve instead of the color curves. Only the active curve shows 

control points.

  You can link the color curves and the opacity curve so they share the same control points. 

To link them, click Link Color and Opacity on the Gradient menu. This will adjust the 

opacity curve to give it the same control points as the color curves. You can now edit the 

opacity and color curves simultaneously.

Next: 

Adjusting gradients

See Also

Tutorial: Working with layers

Tutorial: Masking

Layers

Masks

Gradients

128