Is there any way to apply a gradient to a filter? I am trying to do postwork DOF and it looks pretty decent except it goes from blurry to clear rather abruptly. Is there any way to fade from blurry to clear?

Apply an alpha mask to the filtered layer, and use the gradient on the alpha mask.

Thanks.

Attached Link: Mon Star with (maybe a little too much) DOF

In PS CS there is the 'blur lens' filter, for which you can use an alpha channel to determine where it should be blurred and where not. You can even pick another point in the 'depth' channel to remain sharp. The blurring used looks way more like the blurring you see in Photographs. It even mimics the form of the shutter/lens, and you can adjust radiance of hilites in the blurred parts... (?). Well. Just try, if you have CS. I used it on the image I linked.