If I make a new layer over an image...

fill that layer with a colour...

Use the clouds filter...
can I then:

a) somehow arrange for this layer to have a gradient of visibility with the layer more visible at the bottom of the image, and fading to total invisibility at the top of the image

and or:
b) somehow get an eraser that will remove parts of this layer to let the image below show through but have the eraser use a soft edged brush effect and not jump around like it does now,

• now I get a hard edged brush and as I move the mouse (or the pen) I get lots of impressions where the tool went, like someone stamped down with the eraser like a hole punch, multiple times.

I'm sure I've seen this somewhere, is it to do with masks?

I think I learned about it (and then never used it again, thus forgetting) on a photography course once long ago.

Measure your mind's height
by the shade it casts.
Robert Browning (Paracelsus)

Fran's Freestuff

http://franontheedge.blogspot.com/

http://www.FranOnTheEdge.com