How to adjust gradient curve inside mask fill layer?

[nowherio]

I've made a fill layer, then rasterized it to a mask.

Now anytime I'm using the gradient tool it draws the shape completely new.
Before rasterising it was possible to adjust the curve.
Why is that not a thing after rasterising? 
That is such a frustrating workflow for fading to transparency

[NotMyFault]

Hi,

 

if you want to re-adjust gradients at a later time, you could keep the layer as fill layer or rectangular shape, and nest it to the masking position (move over layer thumbnail) without rasterizing. No need to rasterize for usage as mask.

But there is a catch: to use a vector shape as mask, you need to adjust the color opacity/transparency value (not the color / lightness).

[Dan C]

Hi @nowherio,

After creating the Mask Layer, if you wish to change the Gradient in use you need to enter Isolation Mode on the Mask itself.

To do this, hold down ALT and then click the Mask layer, where you should then find the gradient tool works as expected

[thomaso]

It's not the rasterizing but the layer type "mask" which causes such a behaviour. How about using a rectangle + nested layers?

[NotMyFault]

4 minutes ago, thomaso said:

It's not the rasterizing but the layer type "mask"

A mask is a subtype of pixel layer (meaning:bitmap content, no vector content), and rasterizing means converting to bitmap layer (either pixel or mask). So both are kind of equivalent in this specific case. 

 

[thomaso]

8 minutes ago, NotMyFault said:

A mask is a subtype of pixel layer (meaning:bitmap content, no vector content), and rasterizing means converting to bitmap layer (either pixel or mask). So both are kind of equivalent in this specific case. 

Ah, good point, thanks. I had just the experience in mind which alters the size of the bounding box of a "(Mask)" if I just edit its gradient even if it was initially created from a smaller rectangle and thus appeared in that smaller size first in the layout.

Indeed, I forgot about the fact that every pixel layer's bounding box would increase that way.

[nowherio]

I see that all makes a lot more sense! 
 

Ok 2nd scenario. I have my fill layer and applied a gradient to it, nested it to the right side of the graphic I want masked.
What's a good way that I can paint adjust the gradient? I know you can paint over the mask in various opacities to reveal less/more.
How do I do this subtly though? Is it using a certain brushtype? 

If you'll have a look at the attached graphic. I have a radial gradient, now I want to adjust the edges manually though. 
I'm open for more techniques.

[Dan C]

29 minutes ago, nowherio said:

What's a good way that I can paint adjust the gradient? I know you can paint over the mask in various opacities to reveal less/more.
How do I do this subtly though? Is it using a certain brushtype? 

I would recommend using a brush at 0% Hardness for this, and then play with the amount of brush opacity until you are happy with the results on the mask

[thomaso]

59 minutes ago, nowherio said:

Ok 2nd scenario

… and another option: Your new image reminds me to the Lighting (Live-)Filter in APhoto. A quite different workflow though …

https://affinity.help/photo/English.lproj/index.html?page=pages/Filters/lighting_effects.html?title=Lighting effects

[nowherio]

Cool feature. Didnt know about the lighting.

The 0% hardness method still doesn't seem that great (or I am just bad at using it).

I was thinking something like unique brush textures that make this manual painting easier? If there isn't I guess I just have to get good

[thomaso]

1 hour ago, nowherio said:

The 0% hardness method still doesn't seem that great (or I am just bad at using it).

"… hardness" ? – If you mean Diffuse + expect a hard edge: Set the Inner cone to 100%.

1 hour ago, nowherio said:

I was thinking something like unique brush textures that make this manual painting easier?

… "manual painting" ? Are you talking about a bump map image? Respectively, in what way would a "unique brush" make a "manual painting" easier? However, you may create a unique brush, can't you?

[nowherio]

I have no idea. I'm not good at this stuff. I just notice that when I try to paint opacity with the standard brush, even with 0% hardness like Dan C recommended, it's really hard for me to make it look natural. As in you can clearly see the brush strokes that I make, even if I try to be subtle.
I thought there might be texture brushes that make this easier.

[thomaso]

Ah, not the lighting filter, but the brush. If the blurred area seems too small, it may help to increase the brush size, as this will also increase the width of the blur. To paint in the lower right corner or at the bottom edge, you can choose a larger brush and start from outside the canvas, because the brush paints as soon as the circled brush cursor symbol touches the canvas. This way you can paint a very soft, dark corner.