gradient to a selection or path

[theredace]

I'm trying to do something similar to the shadowing shown around the border of the Instagram logo:
http://wpuploads.appadvice.com/wp-conten...mLarge.png

It's basically just a black-to-transparent gradient but I can't figure out any way to get it to follow a path like it does with the border here. I figured the gradient tool would have some setting to snap to a selection or follow a path, but it doesn't seem so.

I was able to achieve basically the identical effect by just duplicating the layer, making the lower layer black, and blurring the top layer so that the black layer showed through like a gradient, but that doesn't work if your top layer is anything other than a solid color since it blurs everything.

This seems really simple in concept but for the life of me I can't figure out a way to do it. Somebody please point out the obvious so that I can hang my head in shame.

[ofnuts]

- Create a selection on your object (alpha-to-selection or whatever)
- Add new layer, put it in "multiply" mode
- Create "Shaped" gradient in selection
- Use the Curves or Levels tools to adjust shadow, likely by transforming most of the range to white.

   

[theredace]

(Nov 3, 2011 09:06)ofnuts Wrote:  - Create a selection on your object (alpha-to-selection or whatever)
- Add new layer, put it in "multiply" mode
- Create "Shaped" gradient in selection
- Use the Curves or Levels tools to adjust shadow, likely by transforming most of the range to white.

Ah, worked like a charm. I never use the curves tool, it didn't even 'occurve' to me. Hehe...anyone? No?

Thank you!

[ofnuts]

Hmmmm

In fact, the day you understand that when you have a gradient, playing with the Curve or Levels tools is really defining the value as a function of some distance (from a line, a point, or the selection), you make a great step towards inventing your own techniques for a lot of things.