It's not the gradient the problem, it's your brain => the human brain!
Yes every single human living on this planet has a brain visual interpretation/solving problem (except me -> but I'm not from Earth nor a human
)
More seriously
A good reference would be > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_illusion (the two first draws on the right side tell a lot how the human brain works)
Having said that, let's get back on your gradient problem and how to solve it for you to see what you would like to see.
First thing first it's all about how bright or dark is your background using a black to transparent gradient (opposite is true with a white to transparent gradient)
See how smooth is the gradient WITHOUT any background!
https://imgur.com/UvxvcIl
Let's start with different shades of gray and the very same gradient on those different grays
a 25% gray background give a smooth gradient as the background is dark
https://imgur.com/iOpDjhm
a 50% gray gradient we start to see a "contraction" of the smoothness of the gradient near the dark area, but it's the very same gradient!
https://imgur.com/I4Cz4kC
with a white we fell it's cutting short at the black area, thus STILL the very same gradient...
https://imgur.com/YVauV07
with Colors now
Bright colors: we feel that the gradient is also contracted at the bottom, thus not as smooth as it should be, but it is still the very same gradient
https://imgur.com/EMfWtLS
Dark colors: Now We feel that the gradient is smooth, but it's the same gradient like all the examples above
https://imgur.com/QPcwZTs
OK, these explanations and comparison don't fit well as we are blending pixels so those examples are not right in the strict sense! But you got the picture
But how to solve the problem?
Erisian gave one solution, which I have to use as well and works fine.
Thanks a lot Erisian!
An alternative solution is to made 1 full gradient + 1 gradient in a selection
https://imgur.com/83il73f
There is many workaround solutions, you will need to do some trial and error to find out what's the best for your image (you never posted a sample for us to help you to find the best solution)
In all case, I hope this will help
Yes every single human living on this planet has a brain visual interpretation/solving problem (except me -> but I'm not from Earth nor a human
)More seriously
A good reference would be > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_illusion (the two first draws on the right side tell a lot how the human brain works)
Having said that, let's get back on your gradient problem and how to solve it for you to see what you would like to see.
First thing first it's all about how bright or dark is your background using a black to transparent gradient (opposite is true with a white to transparent gradient)
See how smooth is the gradient WITHOUT any background!
https://imgur.com/UvxvcIl
Let's start with different shades of gray and the very same gradient on those different grays
a 25% gray background give a smooth gradient as the background is dark
https://imgur.com/iOpDjhm
a 50% gray gradient we start to see a "contraction" of the smoothness of the gradient near the dark area, but it's the very same gradient!
https://imgur.com/I4Cz4kC
with a white we fell it's cutting short at the black area, thus STILL the very same gradient...
https://imgur.com/YVauV07
with Colors now
Bright colors: we feel that the gradient is also contracted at the bottom, thus not as smooth as it should be, but it is still the very same gradient
https://imgur.com/EMfWtLS
Dark colors: Now We feel that the gradient is smooth, but it's the same gradient like all the examples above
https://imgur.com/QPcwZTs
OK, these explanations and comparison don't fit well as we are blending pixels so those examples are not right in the strict sense! But you got the picture
But how to solve the problem?
Erisian gave one solution, which I have to use as well and works fine.
Thanks a lot Erisian!
(07-09-2021, 01:53 PM)Erisian Wrote: Sometimes if I am using the gradient tool on a layer mask, I have to zoom out quite a way so I can begin and end the gradient well outside the image. This gives a smoother gradient. It is possible to create a new FG/BG gradient so that you can adjust how smoothly it changes but I am not too familiar with that method.How to stretch out the gradient > https://imgur.com/9C6TqHj
An alternative solution is to made 1 full gradient + 1 gradient in a selection
https://imgur.com/83il73f
There is many workaround solutions, you will need to do some trial and error to find out what's the best for your image (you never posted a sample for us to help you to find the best solution)
In all case, I hope this will help