well first you print the image onto card stock then you measure off to where you want the transition to begin and shave the back of the cardstock at an angle, increasing transaprency as you getcloser to the edge, then you place a section of leather against this and scan the whole thing back into your computer at 6500000000000000000000 dpi. or, for real, use a selection of your image where you want the effect, turn it into another layer itself and apply the effect / transition the transparency of the layer setings to haveit more or less noticable