Question about masks in PhotoShop

[threeputt]

Blending two photographs. Putting one layer above the other. Applying mask. Then when I apply the gradient (foreground to background) I don't quite get the desired effect. Is it possible to then apply another gradient over the resultant image?

To make this clearer. I have an oval shaped (hard edge) image over top of a background image in another layer. When I apply the gradient (radial gradient) it doesn't quite dissolve the oval image into the background the way I want at all points of the oval. So I try and re-do, but it simply wipes out the first gradient try and applys the re-do.

What I want to be able to do is compound one effect over the other. I've tried copying the layer and putting that layer above the background and masking, but that doens't work.

Any help? Or maybe there's a better way to blend an oval image evenly all around the perimeter of it into the background.

 

[SignBurst PCs]

There are several ways that you can do this.

One way would be to rasterize the layer and apply the mask again.

Another, less destructive way, would be to turn the layer into a "smart object" and apply another layer mask.

 

[Mason]

Layer/Layer Mask/Apply

Then add another layer mask to that layer

 

[threeputt]

Thank you both. It works! I love this place.

 

[cdiesel]

You can do it that way, or another (and I believe this will more easily get the desired effect) is to <ctrl> click on the oval layer thumbnail in the layers palette. This will load the oval as a selection. Then go to the Select menu, and go to feather. Select the amount of pixels you want to feather and hit enter. Now you can apply the layer mask and get a very smooth blend to the edges of the oval.