Creating a white gradient over a photo

i need create white gradient text box on background photo. please take @ sample:

 

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=13ewsrgyhchak3aqfn6svnpkyvbnd

 

this created blend tool, don't hard dropoffs @ edges of white. want create gradient white going top bottom, opacity dropoff (with soft edge) top , bottom 0 percent shown.

 

the problem is, can't figure out how apply different opacities different parts of gradient. i'd make center 100 percent, , grade out 0 top , bottom. way this? or there tool should using?

 

thanks,

eugene

it's dodle.

 

let me introduce wonderfull world of opacity masks.

 

click on layer (the white box in case) want fade @ edges, make sure transparancy window open (if not: window>transparancy) , left click little arrow in top right hand corner , click "make opacity mask".

 

now left click once in little black box that's appeared in transparancy window.

 

now draw box on white box (you can on side edges no problems in instance, it's best best practices).

 

now new box selected create gradient goes 100% black white (in middle) 100% black again. need make sure it's pure black, don't work in cmyk normally, know if working in rgb need make sure using black , white rgb values , not cmyk (that "fixed" in cs4).

 

make sure gradient rotation going right way , pretty done.

 

you can alter colour saturation levels tweak transparancy level.

 

once done click left box in transparancy window.

 

now done, opacity mask remain attatched artwork until de-tatch it.

 

hope helps , asking for.

 

regards

paul

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