masking bug functionality

Peter Hanmore

• September 14, 2020 04:17

Can someone enlighten me as to how to properly use the 'Add' button to add additional masking bug gradients?  Am I wrong in thinking you can add multiple gradients to the same mask?
For example, if I want to add a gradient to the top and bottom of a local adjustment (to make the top and bottom darker) I first add the bottom gradient - it looks fine - then I click 'Add'.  A new bug appears but if I try to position it at the top (inverted so it should fade out towards the top) all it does is counteract the first bug - essentially making the image look like it did before adding any masking.

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  Brian Lawson Community moderator

  • September 14, 2020 11:20

  Try using the Reflected Gradient option under the Shape menu. 

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  Rick Sammartino Community moderator

  • September 14, 2020 17:19
  • Edited

  As Brian says, it sounds like you need the reflected gradient which will do what you want with one bug. But to answer your question, yes you can use multiple bugs. The bugs are all additive and it matters whether you're using Linear Top or Linear Bottom.

  You can't do what you want with two linear top bugs even if you flip one around. In this quick example to make the middle area darker with the Tone Enhancer, I have a Linear Top on the top of the photo, and a Linear Bottom on the bottom.

  Note that you can drop a bug and then as long as it's still selected, you can go back and change its type in the dropdown menu.

  

   

  In the past, I've used 4 bugs to make the edges fade to white.

   

  

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