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The gradient layer mask is one of my secret weapons. This is one of the most popular techniques used by graphic design pros, and is often seen in movie poster design. Even beginners can create professional results by mastering this process.
To start this tutorial, use the Eyedropper tool to get a sample of any color in your document. I began with a photo of some tree branches.
Click and the sample will now become the foreground color that you can work with.
Now drag the background layer of this photo to the New Layer icon. This will duplicate the layer so you can change some pixels on it.
Switch back to the background layer by clicking on it so it's highlighted in the Layers palette. Now press the New Layer icon to create a new and blank layer above the background layer.
There are several ways you can "fill" this new layer with your foreground color. For now go to Edit > Fill and choose the default foreground color and press OK. This will fill the layer with the new color you have chosen from the Eyedropper tool. Select the original copy you made in the Layers palette, which should be above the fill layer.
Now click on the New Layer Mask icon. You're going to "hide" pixels by using the layer mask—they're still there, just hidden. By hiding some of the pixels on this layer you can let the layer beneath blend into this one. Select your Gradient tool with black as the foreground color and set foreground to transparent as shown below.
Now drag up with the Gradient tool from the bottom at a slight angle towards the top (about 3 screen inches worth). Because you are on the layer mask, these pixels will now be hidden.
Go to the Channels palette and view the layer mask channel.
Once again you can see the black area is the one that you have masked, or hidden, and the white is the area that is left. The red you see is the rubylith. You can click on and off with the key. Or you can turn the eye off in the Channels palette to toggle the display of the rubylith. When you are done looking within the Channels palette, make sure that you reselect the RGB image composite to keep working on the document and layer.
When you right click on the layer mask you have many options to choose from. Try Disable Layer Mask. This will turn the layer mask off with an X in the icon and will bring all your hidden/blended pixels back. You should be seeing by now that using a layer mask is so much better than simply erasing. Right click again and Enable it.
Keep in mind that when using layer masks if you want to keep hiding pixels you must make sure that the layer mask icon itself is highlighted in the layer. Otherwise you'll think you're hiding pixels but you'll actually be on the layer itself, instead of the layer mask. It will take plenty of experience to get used to this. Now choose a darker spot with your Eyedropper tool.
Select the fill layer in the Layers palette to make it the active layer. Press Alt-backspace to fill this layer with your new chosen color.
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