In Inkscape, is there a way to apply an alpha mask or gradient over another color gradient?

Question

I have an object that I've applied a linear gradient to:

that I would like to fade to transparent at the edges:

But I do not know how to do this, given that inkscape doesn't let you apply two gradients to one object (I would like to apply a radial alpha gradient over the linear color gradient). I've accomplished the look here by just using a white elliptical gradient on a new shape, which surrounds the colored shape, plus a white background. But that's obviously not what I want; I want the shape to have a fully transparent background.

Is there a way to achieve this with some kind of Clip & Mask? Or something else?

Answer 1

Top left is your image (actually a screenshot). Top right is a rectangle with gradient fill. In the bottom the gradient rectangle has been dragged onto your shape, both were selected and a mask was set (=Object > Mask > set).

Mask makes the underlying object transparent. White=no change, grey=partially transparent, black=fully transparent.

BEWARE: The parts are still selectable. One can easily move accidentally the mask and the shape apart. Learn to use the Objects panel for reliable selections.