[How to create a white gradient background]

I want to start with an almost opaque white and fade to nothing.  I am doing with blue right now, but I can't get white to work.  It just doesn't print anything and on the screen the whole layer turns white as soon as I click on it with the gradient tool.  If I pick a different color I see that color fade to white on the screen, but what printers is that color fading to clear.

[How to create a white gradient background]

I am printing on a transparent plastic sheet.  I need to create a white gradient background.  I created a new layer, which works fine for any color, but white.  When I select white as the primary color, it just doesn't print.  Plus when I add there is no way to make it fade...or, at least tell that is it fading.  As soon as I select white and click on the area the whole layer turns white.  Is there a way to do this?