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Gradient Layer Affecting Whole Canvas


Magicmango238

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As above, I have a doc with lots of artboards

Every-time I create an adjustment gradient layer, it affects the whole document, creates a mask for the entire canvas

It must be simple, I'm sure I'm being an idiot but how do you set it so that it just affects the artbooard without having to create a separate mask?
Thanks!
 

JeffK

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Not sure I understand. You only want a partial gradient or do you only want the gradient to affect one layer and not others?
Can you supply some screenshots of your workspace including your layer panel? Show us what happens, what your layers look like, and then tell us what you want to achieve.
Showing is better than telling... :)
- Jeff
 

IamSam

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This will depend on where the Gradient Adjustment layer is placed.

It will create it's own mask but as long as it's white (default). The mask should not affect anything unless you use black on the mask.......and then it will only affect the gradient.

Both of the following would affect the entire canvas depending on where they are placed in the layer stack.
Gradient Adjustment layer
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 8.53.21 AM.png

Gradient Map Adjustment Layer.
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 9.03.12 AM.png

It would greatly help if you provided more information, a screen shot, or even the PSD file.
 

Magicmango238

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thanks for the replies
so 2 screenshots attached

The gradient layer is placed within the artboard , but the gradient is not contained within it, when I command click the mask it covers the whole canvas, so here you can se the gradient isnt effective
I found a work around on another site.

it's weird to me, but works, inverting the mask

Thanks again

Screenshot 2021-02-14 at 14.58.31.png

Screenshot 2021-02-14 at 14.58.19.png



Screenshot 2021-02-14 at 15.06.49.png
 

IamSam

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Now that I understand what you doing, I have a question.
Your layers panel screenshot.
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 10.41.13 AM.png

If you have an artboard that contains a heart.......
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 10.16.32 AM.png
Note: I intentionally left off the layer mask for the heart shape layer because it serves no purpose.
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 10.19.52 AM.png

....and you want to add a gradient to the heart, but the gradient adjustment layer fills the entire artboard....
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 10.15.22 AM.png
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 10.20.09 AM.png

How does inverting the gradient adjustment layers-layer mask help? Why add the gradient adjustment layer when the results are exactly the same before you added the gradient layer??
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 10.16.32 AM.png
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 10.20.29 AM.png

What purpose does the gradient adjustment layer serve?

If you want it to be within the heat, just clip it!
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 10.23.33 AM.png
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 10.23.43 AM.png

Or just add a heart shaped layer mask to the Gradient adjustment layer?
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 10.32.11 AM.png

????????
 

IamSam

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Did you want the gradient behind the heart???
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 10.37.04 AM.png
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 10.37.12 AM.png

I'm just at a loss as to what the Gradient Adjustment layer is being used for??
 

Magicmango238

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oh no sorry that was just to demo it

So the artboard will contain several layers, text and images, and I was wanting an overlay to cover everything, which works perfectly when not using artboards in a regular photoshop doc
 

IamSam

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I truly apologize..............but this is very confusing!!

oh no sorry that was just to demo it
Demo what exactly? It still doesn't expain the purpose of the gradient adjustment layer and how inverting it's layer mask helps.

text and images, and I was wanting an overlay to cover everything,
What do you mean by cover everything? All the artboards or just one?
 

IamSam

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Again, I truly apologize! I'm just not understanding! Please help me out!
 

Magicmango238

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honestly don't worry, the fix works well

if you see the attached. Both have the same gradient adjustment layer

On the left, it only shows the top of the gradient as the rest spreads over the entire document

On the right, its look identical in the layers panel , but

I filled the mask with black, then inverted it, it looks the same, but, this confines the gradient to the artboard which is what I wanted, job done :)

Thanks for your help, I'll push forward with this method I think as its effective for now

Screenshot 2021-02-14 at 17.01.46.png
 

Magicmango238

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( i know I can add gradients in the layer style window that affects individual layers, this is an overlay for several layers so will be placed on top of all )
 

Magicmango238

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haha thanks!

I just would have thought adding an adjustment layer would affect the artboard only as often I'll work with different designs /. atboards with one canvas

I found a few forums mentioning this, I thought maybe it was a bug but it appears its just the norm, in my version at least
 

IamSam

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OK........

I have two artbords, one is a duplicate of the first.

Both have Gradient adjustment layers added.
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 11.24.00 AM.png
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 11.24.07 AM.png

On artboard 2, I fill it's adjustment layers-layer mask with black. Here's the result.
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 11.24.24 AM.png
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 11.24.32 AM.png

I then "INVERT" the adjustments layers-layer mask and this is what I get!
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 11.24.45 AM.png
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 11.24.54 AM.png

I'm clearly doing something wrong!
 

Magicmango238

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yours looks like its fine, your gradient is confined to the artboard which makes me think it might be my version of photohop or I've picked up a bug
if I create a gradient layer it doesnt act that way
 

IamSam

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Sorry, had to step out for awhile.

yours looks like its fine, your gradient is confined to the artboard
The gradient is confined to the artboard, but not to the heart shape. Mine's not working like yours. Some how you have confined the gradient to the heart shape without a layer mask or a clipping mask. Not sure how you managed this. I can't re-create your results based on what I can see in your layers panel example. I'm clearly missing something. I've been working with artboards since they came out and I usually don't have problems understanding!

Your results
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 1.25.36 PM.png
Your layers panel
Screen Shot 2021-02-14 at 11.06.38 AM.png
this is an overlay for several layers so will be placed on top of all
Not sure what this "overlay" is and how the solution of filling the Gradient adjustment layers-layer mask with black and then inverting it will or did accomplish this? What do you mean by all? Layers? Multiple Artboards?

Again I really do apologize for all the questions...............I really want to understand.
 

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