Composite Mode Explanation

[1] Complete Guide to CLIP STUDIO PAINT Blending Modes [Introduction ~ Add (Glow)]

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駒米トオル

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The images contain Japanese text, but rest assured that the same text has been transcribed into the article's body for translation.

I have also created a video with the same content as this article.

Some explanations are provided in the video, so please take a look if you like.

▼Video

What are Blending Modes?

First, "blending modes" refers to these options found above the Layer window, such as Multiply and Screen.

There are various names like "Blend Mode" or "Drawing Mode," but here we will refer to them as "Blending Modes."

Additionally, blending modes exist not only for layers but also for drawing tools.

The basic processing is the same, but some blending modes are exclusive to drawing tools. Therefore, I will explain the blending modes of layers as the main focus, along with those for brushes.

Order of Blending Modes

Actually, blending modes are roughly grouped and arranged.

The topmost "Normal" is the basic effect.

"Darken" to "Subtract" are primarily darkening effects.

"Lighten" to "Add (Glow)" are primarily brightening effects.

"Overlay" to "Divide" involve contrast and comparison.

Finally, "Hue" to "Luminosity" are for color changes.

The darkening effects and brightening effects are generally arranged in pairs, so learning them as sets should make choosing blending modes easier.

About Calculation Formulas

Mathematical terms like "Multiply" and "Add" are used in the names of blending modes, and as the names suggest, various calculations are employed in color blending processes.

I will introduce some of these calculation formulas during the detailed explanations, so I will now explain the key points you should know beforehand.

First, the primary color information used in blending mode calculations is RGB values.

These are the numbers displayed in the bottom right of the Color Circle window, or in the RGB tab of the Color Slider.

0 represents black and 255 represents white, and the color is determined by how much Red, Green, and Blue are included, respectively.

When calculating, these numbers from 0 to 255 are normalized to a range of 0 to 1.

It's slightly different, but conceptually it's like 0% to 100%.

The normalized value is obtained by dividing the RGB value by 255.

Additionally, I will use the terms "base color" and "blend color" in the formulas. The color of the lower layer will be referred to as the base color, and the color of the upper layer with a changed blending mode will be referred to as the blend color. Please remember these terms.

▼Text in Image

Calculation Formula

Result Color = Base Color * Blend Color / 255 ... Calculate using the RGB values above

[Normalization]

Result Color = Base Color * Blend Color ... Calculate using the numbers in parentheses below

[1] Normal

This is the initial state with no settings applied.

It displays the color of the overlapping upper layer as is.

[2] Darken

It compares the RGB values with the lower layer and displays the color with the smaller value (the darker one).

This can be used when compositing images or when you want to change only the bright colored parts.

It blends more smoothly compared to Darker Color.

←Darken　Darker Color→

[3] Multiply

Multiply results in a darker color than the original.

As the name suggests, the mechanism involves multiplying the RGB values.

[Calculation Formula]

Result Color = Base Color * Blend Color / 255

Result Color = Base Color * Blend Color

Since it's a simple multiplication, if the blend color's brightness (RGB value) is 0.5, the base color's brightness becomes ×0.5, meaning half as bright. If the blend color is 0.3, it becomes one-third as bright.

Multiply layers are often used for adding shadows, but depending on the color, they can easily result in a slightly dull darkness, so caution is needed.

Additionally, since it can darken the image while maintaining the light-dark ratio of the lower layer, applying a single faint color over the entire image can create a soft atmosphere without significantly altering the original impression.

[4] Color Burn

Like Multiply, Color Burn also results in a darker color than the original, but with increased contrast.

The mechanism involves dividing the inverted lower layer by the upper layer, and then inverting the result.

[Calculation Formula]

Result Color = 255 - (255 - Base Color) * 255 / Blend Color

Result Color = 1 - (1 - Base Color) / Blend Color

Since it produces quite strong contrast, it can be used similarly to a level adjustment. Applying it slightly on top when you want more distinct brightness makes the image appear tighter.

Be careful of "clipping" (black crush) as it tends to emphasize black heavily.

[5] Linear Burn

It inverts each layer, adds the upper layer, and then inverts the result.

[Calculation Formula]

Result Color = 255 - { (255 - Base Color) + (255 - Blend Color) }

Result Color = 1 - { (1 - Base Color) + (1 - Blend Color) }

Result Color = 0 when sum is 255 or less

Result Color + Blend Color - 255 when sum is 255 or more

←Color Burn　Linear Burn→

Similar to Color Burn, but it doesn't produce as much contrast and effectively darkens even bright areas.

Linear Burn results in colors similar to what you see through 3D glasses. Compared to Multiply, it slightly increases saturation while darkening thoroughly, making it suitable for drawing sharp shadows, unifying the overall color tone, and expressing darkness, night, or shade.

[6] Subtract

Subtract is, as the name suggests, the subtraction of RGB values.

[Calculation Formula]

Result Color = Base Color - Blend Color

←Linear Burn　Subtract→

Actually, Subtract and Linear Burn have almost the same effect.

If you invert the color (hue, brightness, saturation) of Subtract and apply Linear Burn, you will get the same result as Subtract.

The decisive difference between these two, however, is that with Linear Burn, the result does not change even if the bottom and top layers are reversed, whereas with Subtract, the result changes when the bottom and top layers are reversed.

Considering these characteristics, Linear Burn is suitable for creating a Linear Burn layer above the base layer and then adding or processing, while Subtract might be better used by making the base layer itself a Subtract layer and then creating a Normal layer below it for additional drawing and processing.

[7] Lighten

This blending mode is the opposite of Darken, displaying the color with the larger RGB value (the brighter one) when comparing them.

By duplicating an illustration, blurring it slightly, and setting it to Lighten, you can easily apply a diffusion effect, which makes light appear to spread.

[8] Screen

Screen has the opposite effect of Multiply, brightening the color of the lower layer.

[Calculation Formula]

Result Color = Base Color + Blend Color - Base Color * Blend Color / 255

Result Color = 1 - (1 - Base Color) * (1 - Blend Color)

It's a bit complex, but it involves multiplying the inverted base and blend colors, and then inverting that result again.

←Original Image　Screen→

Similar to Multiply, Screen can also brighten colors in a dull, whitish way depending on the color, making it a blending mode suitable for expressing soft light, among other things.

[9] Color Dodge

It's the opposite of Color Burn, brightening the image while increasing contrast.

The mechanism involves dividing the lower layer by the inverted upper layer.

[Calculation Formula]

Result Color = Base Color * 255 / (255 - Blend Color)

Result Color = Base Color / (1 - Blend Color)

It's easy to use when you want to brighten and increase saturation without necessarily making it glow.

[10] Glow Dodge

One might think this is the opposite of Linear Burn due to its order, but Glow Dodge is a variant blending mode of Color Dodge.

When the blend color has 100% opacity, it has the same effect as Color Dodge, but when it becomes semi-transparent, the effect is stronger than Color Dodge.

Imagine that the effect of colors used in Color Dodge gradually approaching black can be achieved with opacity in Glow Dodge.

←Color Dodge　Glow Dodge→

It is suitable for expressing very strong, dazzling light, making it ideal for metallic sheen and similar effects.