Digital BW, The Print

>> that follows a curved path. As far as I can tell Photoshop only does
>> gradients along from a straight line or as a sphere. Is there anyway
>> to create a gradient off of a free hand curve or path?

Martin, you could also just draw your path with a very large, soft brush.
(One half of a soft brush is a gradient and that gradient would follow the
path).  There would be a lot of touch up where you wish it to be totally
opaque.

Carolyn