Adobe Tutorial

This tutorial taught me how to use a layer mask to create a in Photoshop.

First you create a new document to the size you want your photo to be. Then select all of the photo and copy and paste it into your new document. To resize the photo you can hold the shift key and drag the corners to make the photo the correct size. They you select the layer mask button, which is on the bottom of your layers panel that looks like a rectangle with a circle in the middle. Then with the layer mask selected next to the photo. Then make sure the foreground color is black and the background is white or transparent. Then select the gradient tool and choose the black to white/transparent gradient. Then drag the "plus" sign of the gradient tool up to where you want the gradient to end on your photo and there you have your fade. I added the text to show that I could use this tool for things such as a magazine cover or brochure. Finally save your document to complete it.



Source:

http://www.adobetutorialz.com/articles/642/1/Fade-Images-in-Photoshop-Using-Layer-Masks