Group bounds for layer gradient style

Question

I have two layers; one with a gradient style on it directly, and one inside a group with the exact same gradient style applied. However, the gradient's range is the entire canvas, instead of the bounds of the shape(s) inside it. Here's a picture:

Is there anyway to constrain the bounds of the gradient to the shapes inside of the group instead of the entire canvas? All other layer styles respect the layer bounds. One solution I've found is to use a mask on the group. However, that gets tedious with multiple shapes very quickly as you have to get the aggregate of the shapes and reapply the mask for every change.

Answer 1

There are basically four ways to handle this....

Method A

Masking the layer group. But you know that. And as you pointed out, regenerating the mask can be cumbersome.

Method B

A Smart Object with the Gradient Overlay applied to that. This can make altering or editing the internal items of the group a bit more cumbersome though.

Method C

Add the Gradient Overlay to each layer inside the group. Ahh, but you say, "Then the gradient is different on each shape." Not if you uncheck the Align with Layer option in the Gradient Overlay dialog window.

using C you can move the internal group items around and the gradient stays at the document bounds.

and...

Method D

Nested Groups. There's nothing stopping you from adding a nested group and applying the Gradient Overlay to that nested group. This will only alter the items inside the nested group.

Be aware, you can only nest groups up to a certain number. I think it's 5 or 10 levels, but I'm not certain. Don't ask me why nested groups work when non-nested groups don't work. I have no idea.

Answer 2

Masking is one way to go.

Another way to go is to convert your layer group to a smart object (right-click the layer group and select Convert to Smart Object) and then applying the layer styles to the smart object. You can of course, at any time edit the smart object (right-click the smart object and select Edit Contents) which will open as a layer group with each layer inside of it).