Semi-transparent effect?

Hi,

Does anyone know how to get this effect? Like a semi-transparent beam that looks like this.



Thanks.

Hi

I don't know what version of Photoshop you have, but the easiest way of doing this is with layer effects:

Create a new layer.

With the rectangular select tool, select the whole area you want to be the beam - from where it fades to nothing on each side. It doesn't matter how tall you make the selection as you can scale it afterwards.

Fill the selection with white (or whatever you want). In your layers palette, take the Fill down to 0%.

Now double click on the layer. On the left hand side, pick Gradient Overlay.

Click on the gradient box (the actual gradient not the arrow). In the popup, there is another box with a gradient (most likely black to white). There should be little pointy boxes on all 4 corners. The two pointy boxes on the bottom represent the colour, while the two on the top represent the transparency.

Make both the boxes on the bottom display white (as per your example - use whatever colour you want though). Do this by clicking on them and adjusting the Color option underneath.

On the top, you want to make it fade from 0% - 100% - 0% opacity, so first select each pointy box on the top corners and adjust the Opacity box underneath to 0%. Then click roughly in the middle of the two points just above the gradient box to create a new little pointy box (if you watch the Location box underneath you can see where it lands- you're aiming for 50% so move it around until you get that result). Set the Opacity of this to 100%.

If you have a contrasting background, you should now see a fade from 0 to white to 0.

Now click to select the middle top pointy box. You will see two diamond shapes at 25% and 75% along the gradient. You can move these around - I would suggest moving from 25% to 35% and 75% to 65% or thereabouts. Add more pointy boxes and move diamonds about for your desired effect.

When you're happy click OK.

This is the basics of your 'beam'.