Mask effect

Can someone tell me how to duplicate these effects..the mask overlay that blends from transparent to opaque, and the faded out background image?

Thanks!

you put the photo on one layer, put a new layer above and fill with a colour, then apply a layer mask to that layer. use your gradient tool and drag across the layer.

Thanks KillerWolf. How do I fade out the image on the underneath layer? I've tried to use an adjustment layer, but it loses its resolution.

you don't need to, the gradient mask will turn the colour layer from transparent to opaque, thereby "fading out" the underlyng impage so you end up w/ solid colour at the other side.

in the example you linked, i would have the forest pic as the bottom layer, create a greeny/brown layer above and apply the mask to that. if you don't want to use the gradient just use your brush tools to paint on the mask on the left and the picture will appear from below.
everything else on that image will be on layers above these two.
if you want the greenybrown layer to tint the forest pic, you just don't paint as heavily and that will create a masked but that isn't totally transparent.

Got it...thanks so much!