Hey John, you can just use the Gradient Tool directly on an adjustment/filter layer or a mask layer: select the tool (G), then click-drag to draw out the gradient and you'll see the mask effect straight away. However, you can take this a step further and use a Fill layer which gives you a completely non-destructive gradient mask (using the gradient tool creates a 'raster' gradient which cannot be edited once you switch to a different tool). To do this, you can use the following steps: 1. Layer>New Fill Layer. 2. The Gradient Tool will automatically be selected. Draw out your desired gradient. 3. With the black gradient stop selected (it should be by default), change Opacity on the Colour panel to 0%. Using black by itself won't register once the Fill layer is used as a mask: it works off Opacity instead. 4. On the Layers panel, drag this Fill layer onto the thumbnail of the layer you want to mask (e.g. an adjustment layer, pixel layer, live filter layer). Hope that helps!

Thanks James, when I grab my laptop, I’ll take a look.

Hi James, your first paragraph worked perfectly for my needs. I couldn’t get the second example to work, I ended up with a faded out picture. Not to worry, the first part gave me my needs. Thank you.

I think that's one of the changes in AP 2. The mask is there but only shows up once it is activated by painting.

Hi John, you can either invert the selection or the created mask layer. To invert the selection (before masking), use the top menu Select>Invert Pixel Selection. To invert the mask, make sure it's selected then use Layer>Invert (or CMD+I / Ctrl+I). PS for your white border, try using a Fill layer (Layer>New Fill Layer). This keeps it as a non-destructive vector layer which actually has its own mask: so you could for example make your marquee selection first, invert it, then use New Fill Layer and the layer's alpha channel will mask to that selection. This is quicker with fewer steps. Alternatively, here's a creative solution for you that will let you be completely non-destructive and alter the shape of the mask at any time: 1. Create a Fill Layer and make it whatever colour you want the border to be 2. Drag out a quick shape (e.g. Rectangle Tool) and draw it across the area you want to show through. You can use Snapping (magnet icon, top toolbar) to line it up to the centre of the image 3. On the Layers Panel, drag the quick shape onto the text (NOT the thumbnail) of the Fill Layer and release the mouse button. This clips it inside (or, in our terminology, child layers it) 4. Set the quick shape's blend mode to Erase. It will knock out the fill wherever the shape renders, giving you the border effect 5. The benefit is that you can now adjust the shape at any time for a 'live' border mask, e.g. make it thinner or thicker Hope the above helps!

@@JamesRitson this is awesome - thank you very much for your detailed instructions!

You can press X on your keyboard to toggle between black and white.

No, no AI supported masking is available. Unfortunately.