From 100% to 50% opacity in Gimp

Hi, I'm trying to make a pair of glitch pants that are solid black near the bottom but that shift gradually to 50% opacity at the top where they meet the 50% opacity matching top part of the dress. I'm guessing the gradient tool in Gimp does this, but I can't seem to figure out how to get it to go only to 50% opacity rather than all the way to 0%.

If what I'm saying makes no sense, maybe I can meet Gimp experts in world and show you the effect I'm trying to achieve (that someone else made) and then show you the failed results of my attempts to achieve something similar for my own dress. Thanks.

Hi Sweet,

When you edit the gradient from the Gradient Selection Dialog, set the "Left Colour Type" to "Fixed". The option for "Left Endpoint's Color" will then be active and you can use it to get the colour dialog and set the alpha to any value you want. Same for the right.

Thank you very much, I'll try that right away!

For the layer you are trying to fade, add a layer mask. This will put a second little image on that layer.

In that mask, draw a gradient that goes from black (0,0,0) to 50% (128,128,12 in the direction you need (bottom to top, sounds like).

This should make that layer fade from solid at the bottom to 50% at the top.

Thank you both for your help, but I am afraid I continue to have difficulties. I have attempted both suggested solutions, but my beginner status in Gimp is showing:

1. When I edit the gradient from the gradient dialog, the Gradient Editor window opens. There is nothing in this window about setting Left Endpoint's Color. The only thing in that window is a picture of the gradient (I selected "FG to Transparent", a bar under that picture, an "Instant Update" check, and save and zoom functions at the bottom. So I'm not finding where to set endpoints.

2. The second suggested solution sounds as promising as the one above, but the solution assumes the very knowledge I am seeking. "draw a gradient that goes from black (0,0,0) to 50% (128,128,12 in the direction you need (bottom to top, sounds like)" That is exactly what I am asking how to do. I do not see any options to set the parameters of the gradient! How do I choose one that goes from 100% opaque black to 50% opaque black?

Thank you both for your help on this. I look forward to whatever you or someone else may suggest.

I will try this later when I get home, and post better instructions.

meanwhile, is there a FG to BG gradient? Set the FG to Black and the BG to gray.

That's the right place. You can select a segment to edit by double clicking in the white bar, this will highlight the part to be edited in blue. The rest of the options I mentioned are available by right clicking to get the menu.

Thank you both again. I did this time find the other dialog options as per suggestion 1. I still couldn't understand what to set things to in there, but at least now I know where to experiment.

I did solve my problem, but probably in a way that created more steps than those of you who know Gimp would have had to take. Here is what I did:

1. Made new layer.
2. Filled with gradient from 100% opacity to 0% opacity (the default), from bottom of the layer to the top.
3. Selected that layer and moved it up until it roughly looked like the 50% opacity was at the top.
4. Toggled between that layer and another layer of solid black set to 50% transparancy until I felt I had matched it fairly closely.

Saved, uploaded. My initial test was a very close match. I went back and changed the transparency on that layer several times, in 5% increments. Uploaded those. Found my match. Happy girl.

I'll post a picture of my completed dress later today. I'm sure this solution is laughable compared to the way it is supposed to be done, but when you can't quite understand the program, you have to get creative!

There is the result. Thanks again for the help.