automatically adjusting gradient layer

[seson]

Hi there,

I found a photoshop file somewhere on the net and the really fascinating ting about it was one of its gradient layers. I has a behavior I have never come across yet, because whenever you remove certain parts of the layer mask, i.e. paint the bottom half black for example, photoshop adjusts the gradient to the remaining opaque part of the layer.

Why is this?

(I have uploaded the file gradient.psd on http://files-upload.com/285675/gradient.psd.html if you know a better place to upload things for a short time, just let me know)

Sebastian

[tombothetominator]

the 'align with layer' box is checked in the gradient dialoge box.

[seson]

oh, I see. However, this is just half of the truth.

If I create a new gradient layer and check 'align with layer' (which is checked already), this behavior does not occur.

Why is this? I seem not to be able to recreate such a layer.

Thanks for your answer,

Seb

[tombothetominator]

I see what you are saying. It works if you create the gradient adjustment layer when you have an area selected (or the whole doc, as long as it is selected).

Then make sure that the align with layer box is checked. Then you should be good to go. Let me know if that helps.

[seson]

perfect, thanks very much.

It already works if you select something in the layer mask and fill it or invert the whole mask. Then align with layer makes sense.