Hello, I am trying to learn photoshop by following various online tutorials. Right now I am trying to follow the tutorial posted at http://www.photoshoplab.com/web20-d... I was able to create the blue gradient bar successfully. But I have questions. My first question is regarding the shadow affect for the text. Why was only the text affected when I used the gradient tool? Why didn't the background fade as well? Is it because of layer masking? I goolged layer masking and found out that it is useful for hiding pixels. If layer mask is black makes the layer underneath it transparent. So how could this feature help protect the background? Thanks in advance.

I just know little about that also, can't give you any help.

A clipping mask on the gradient will restrict it to just the text, if the text is on the layer below it.