Blending image

When I try to blend an image into the, for example, white background below in a kinda gradient style, I learned ages to add a layer above and put a white colour-to-transparent gradient in at my desired angle and length, but now thats running me into problems. I'd like to know if there are any other methods... ie. something like a opacity fade in the same layer?
Cheers,

Dave,
No Problem. On the layer you want to put the opacity fade, click the Add A Mask Button on the bottom of the Layers Palette (second from the left). Then, with black as your Foreground Color, apply whatever style gradient pleases you (make sure Foreground To Transparent is your gradient color choice). The black will cause whichever area it covers to become transparent. Remember when using Masks: "Black Conceals, White Reveals" Incidentally, this solution is better than your old one because it makes file size smaller by having one less layer.