GIMP Version: 2.75
Operating System: Windows
OS Version: 7 sp 1
GIMP Experience: Intermediate Level

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I have not seen and if I missed it I apologize in advance for a duplicate question or inquiry. I have a need to be able to take an image and do a gradual fadeout outwards towards the boundary to a transparent mode outward from the main subject of the picture so that an image can blend it with the background on which it is layered, say in a collage or compilation. The edges don't need to be uniform and in some cases it would be preferable if they were not.

Is there a script or plug-in that accomplishes this?

Thanks!

You could always create a radial gradient layer mask this one shown.

but...does that go transparent? I thought of that..but to look at it it looks to go from light to dark..not solid to transparent?

*sorry to sound so dumb*

Another way to do it if you want to control the feathering is to create an ellipse in the center of the image.
Go to Select>Invert to invert the selection.
Go to Select>Feather and feather by about 25 or a little less depends on what you want.You should experiment with it.
Go to Edit>Clear to clear the inverted area with the feathering intact.

Thanks, I'll try that.

The magic of layer masks. You can also click on the layer mask and paint white or black depending one what you what to show or not (or shades of gray to add some transparency or make something semi-solid). Note the anchor message; you have to click the anchor button to paste your mask into the layer mask part of the layer.

you know..somehow I knew you were going to layer masks.....thanks! I'll try this too! I will be using it alot

this tutorial and basically the whole thread will help you set up some interesting layer masks. And yes, using the layer mask method allows for transparencies.
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=3133

thank you...bookmarked!

Molly did a great job on this Intro To Layer Masks tutorial. You might find it helpful, as well.

I actually have done that tutorial about 3 maybe 4 times...I don't know why I have this mental issue with layer masks....I've used them but not like I should I know I could do so much more if I would start utilizing them even more. I do things the hard way.

This new year my resolution is to finally tuck layer masks under my belt to where they are second nature to me.

Just remember using "Layer Masks" is non destructive to the image you are working on.
That may help you to keep using them.Hopefully Gimp will have Masks for layer groups soon.

OMG!! I'm so excited....yeah I'm a dork...so I have this photography assignment, (I'm a photographer for an online magazine of a virtual world) ANYWAY there was a side aspect added of a wedding that wasn't the main focus of the assignment so I wanted to have it be only 1 of the 8 pictures of the inside layout. Being a wedding I wanted the pictures soft, no lines etc..thus my original question.

12:30 last night...the light bulb goes on...and I get it!! it is so easy....i have no idea why I mental blocked it.........but...anyway...here it is. 6 layers with masks of various things, I was using gradient, adding, taking away, opacity you name it....I can't believe I hadn't snapped to this before.....


wedding compilation by Jorden Grau, on Flickr

That is beautiful Jorden.

Thanks Molly, and thanks for your tutorial because that is what helped. I look forward to more...

Looking good!