Hello!

 

This is Mana1057 and we're gonna talk about some basic to intermediate uses of Blending Modes. From Basic of the basics to Effects even to Correction Layers and Component Blending Modes.

 

This topic has been divided into five (5) parts; Normal, Darken, Lighten & Contrast, Effects, Component - Blending Modes.

 

This SECOND part is about Darken Blending Mode and a lot of Blending with Characters and Backgrounds.

You can check out this video right here for the second part:

 

◊ INTRO

We use Blending Modes because it makes the computation of colors easier and that’s what Blending Modes are, they compute (Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide, etc) the values of RGB, Vibrancy, Saturation and Color of the Blending LAYER and the Base Layer or Layer Below

 

Okay! Please look at this ball right here:

 

We will be using Blending Modes on these areas/parts right here for the basic Blending Modes.

 

For the intermediate parts, we'll talk about Blending Characters and Environments together.

 

Let’s start with the Darken Blending Modes, their common uses and what else can we do with these blending modes.

◊ DARKEN Blending Modes

Using Blending Modes for shadows is one of its most common uses. It's easier to use, you just pick a color and it just blends with the Base Layer / Layer below. The reality of it is Blending Modes do the computation for you, this could either ADD or MULTIPLY the values of the RGB and Vibrancy of the colors that’s why we are getting such dark results when we use this DARKEN Blending Modes.

 

There are a lot of DARKEN or Shadow Blend modes in Clip Studio. Everything on the RED category gives a result of a DARKER tone.

 

They are called DARKEN Blending Modes because they add color and darken the resulting image.

 

It’s not necessary to use all of them, in fact there are some Blend Modes that you will never use.

Regarding on where you’ll use them, there’s only one or two Blending Modes that you’ll be using a lot depending on the mood or feel that you’re going for.

 

→ Basic Shadows

One of the Blend Modes that everyone uses a lot is Multiply.

This is the most common blend mode to use for shadows.

 

This basically multiplies the values of the RGB of the Base Layer (Layer below) to the Blending Layer resulting to a much different color

 

• Using a purplish-greyish tone usually works best when doing skins.

 

• If you’re unsatisfied if the colors match, just go to the Hue, Saturation and Luminosity (CTRL + Shift + U) and adjust the settings.

 

• I usually do three (3) shadows; Main Shadow, Ambient Occlusion, and Gradient Shadows.

*If the image is too small; Right Click it > Open in New Tab

Main Shadow is Basic shadow. Used to define the distance or thickness of the element.

 

Occlusion is a Thin and dark Shadow. Used to define the element from one another.

 

Halftone is a gradient shadow. Used to define that an element is not flat and to define perspective.

 

→ Core Shadow

Core Shadows are shadows created by the element itself depending on the light source. This is like the blocking of light and the element (i.e. character) creates a shadow.

 

Creating it is very easy. Make sure your Character and BG are separated.

 

Make a New Layer (CTRL + Shift + N); Clip it to the element/character > Get your brush; get your shadow color > and just make the Core shadow.

Make sure you set your Shadow Layer to Multiply when done.

 

Core Shadows come in different forms all depending on the shape and light source.

A few examples are these ones below.

*I will be using the one on the right as an example later on for the LIGHTEN topic!

 

Making Core Shadow alone is okay as it is but combining them with Center of Light (Overlay) and SSS (Glow Dodge) will give a much cooler effect

Overlay works as a Center of Light

Glow Dodge works as an SSS – I will talk about more of this on the LIGHTEN topic.

 

So we started with a plain character and now we have core shadow

 

TO MAKE A LEAVES Core Shadow

 

Make sure your character and background are on separate layers > Make a New Layer (CTRL + Shift + N) above the Character; set the New Layer on Multiply > Fill the New Layer with a Shadow Color; Clip the New layer to the Layer Below > Please make sure to MASK your layer > Get a leaves brush; use the Transparent Color and erase a few Shadow Colors

 

*The lighting process of this kind of shadow will be part of the LIGHTEN topic!

→Background Blending

On this part, I’ll be showing you the basic of background blending or recoloring using Darken Blending Modes.

Example is this Pre-made Background from Clip Studio

 

I will be using this Mountain forest Day as an example here

 

I will be using my very red character and our background will be the Forest Day time .

 

What if I want to make it a reddish-night atmosphere to match the character?

 

With the image/background already placed; duplicate that BG and rasterize it > Turn it into Greyscale

 

Then make a new layer above that (CTRL + SHIFT + N); Color it with a red tone, use Gradients too if you want > Change the Blending Mode to Linear Burn.

Why not the other DARKEN Blending Modes?

*if the image is too small; Right Click > Open in New Tab

From left to right:

 

> Darken – will only show whatever color is darker and this doesn’t blend pixels

 

> Multiply – literally multiplies values of the Blending Layer to the Layer Below, so chances of getting a lighter tone is there, and I don’t need a light tone, I need a darker tone.

 

> Color Burn – this adds color while it darkens but doesn’t work if the layer below is on a lighter tone; it will turn white.

 

> Darker Color – is the stronger version of Darken, so it will only show patches of dark colors without blending any pixels

 

 

And so we’re choosing Linear Burn because

> LINEAR BURN basically adds colors while darkening the resulting image and this Darken/Shadow Blend Mode will work even if the Layer Below is on a lighter shade

 

 

Then I just make a new layer (CTRL + Shift + N) > Make gradient shadows (Multiply) above and below that and it’s done.

 

Then I added a Glow Supports (Glow Dodge) as well just to support the atmosphere; basically painted some light on the Background to support the elements of the drawing – which are the lanterns.

 

So we started with the daytime and now it’s night

→ Character Blending

What if you have this character and you also have this very very night background? They don’t match, they don’t blend with each other. The character should BATHE in the same tone as the background.

This is like the topic above, only here, we’re making the character blend with the background.

So let’s do this!

 

I’ll be using this background here:

 

*Make sure your character and your background are in separate layers!

 

Make a New Layer above the character (CTRL + Shift + N) > Get the Gradient Tool (G); choose Foreground to background > Change your Foreground to the light mid-tone color of the Main BG; then choose a Background color of a dark mid-tone color also from the Main BG.

*Do not go full white and pure black

 

Make sure you’re on the New Layer; Make a Gradient Stroke depending on your drawing perspective, on the example, it’s just straight so we go straight > Then change the Blending Mode to either Multiply or Linear Burn > Lower the Opacity for at least 35-40%

 

Make sure to CLIP ON LAYER BELOW so that only the character will be affected by the shadow

 

*if the image is too small; Right Click > Open in New Tab

Multiply multiplies the values of the RGB so there’s a possibility that you’ll get light color results.

Linear Burn darkens and adds color and affects Whites and Luminosity so you’ll get a much darker result.

 

This is already okay as it is, if you think that some areas are way too light, just add a New Layer > Add a few Gradient (Foreground Transparency); just small strokes to support the lighter areas.

 

For additional detail; GLOW. Let’s add a glow just to support the light coming on the left side of the drawing.

 

Let’s make a New layer (CTRL + Shift + N) > Get the Gradient Tool (G); Foreground to Transparency, get that color from the light source or the lightest color from the BG > Make a Gradient swipe mimicking the GLOW or LIGHT coming from the left side > Change the Blending Mode to Glow Dodge.

 

We will talk about GLOW and the likes later, but on here, if the color is too strong, just lower the Opacity. Change the Saturation if needed (CTRL + U); lower the Saturation to lessen the Blue tones.

 

 

So we started with a character not blending with the background and now we have a character blending with the environment.

 

◊ NEXT TOPIC

Next Topic, let’s talk about LIGHTEN and CONTRAST Blending Modes; what they are and their common uses along with some intermediate uses.

 

Please remember that this is a 5 part series, this is the second one – now let’s go to the next one!