ok, you guys can all line up and slap the (****) out of me later but I need help at the moment.  I know this is one of the simplist things to do in photoshop but I have not done it in a while and for the life of me can't remember how to do it. 

I am working on a web header and have an image on the right side.  I want to do a fade out from right to left with the image fading into the left center of the background.  Again, I can remember how do do it.  can someone help my already stressed brain and tell how or point to a tut?  thanks.

Just dropping in a quick answer and don't have time to search for a tut. But ... Create an alpha mask for the layer with the image. Then, on the alpha mask, use the gradient tool to go from white on the left to black on the right.

Add a vector mask to the layer you want to fade out.  Swicth to default color(black&White). select  the gradient fill tool and have it to foreground to background.  Click in the vector mask box in the Layers Pallete, then click and drag from right to left in the active picture window.  Hope this helps.

even easier way.. use the  the gradient tool, (if you have the options bar on) click the drop down arrow and use the one with a trasparent - forground, preset. choose the fore ground colour, make it the colour that you webpage will be. click and drag.. and your  banner will fade..