What are blending modes?

Blending modes is a filter effect that affects the layer above and the

layer below.

Why use blending modes?

● Blending modes are an effective tool for improving the workflow of your art.

 

● They help you gain a better understanding of values and color in art composition.

 

● Understanding the purpose of each blending mode can lead to improved art and discovering new ways of enhancing your work.

How do you use blending modes?

You change the mode above to affect the layer below.

 

Before blending modes the most you could do was lower the opacity of the layer. Your other option was drawing and painting the color value you wanted to achieve. As digital art software continues to advance, the best time to use blending modes is when you are comfortable enough to want to enhance your art.

Blending Mode Groups

Blending modes have similar and opposite effects.

The blending modes can be found in the layer window with a drop-down option at the very top. The name choices may seem confusing to understand. They are grouped based on the similar function they perform.

 

Darken Modes: darken, multiply, color burn, linear burn, and subtract.

 

Lighten Modes: lighten, screen, color dodge, glow dodge, add, and add glow.

 

Contrast Modes, overlay, soft light, hard light, difference, vivid light, linear light, pin light, hard light, and hard mix.

 

Inversion mode: exclusion, darker color, lighter color, and divide.

 

Component mode: Hue, saturation, color, and brightness.

 

 

 

Blending Modes Explained

Set Layers

We will explain each blending mode and the difference between them. Only 2 layers will be

used to explain them. Our top layer is color boxes, a spectrum gradient, and a greyscale

gradient box. Our bottom layer is a grey box, the default sea scene material, and a random

color.

Normal

Both layers coexist without any changes to each other. In other words, they superimpose each

other.

Darken Mode

The values of the top layer and the bottom layer are compared and the color with the lower value is displayed.

Multiply

The values of the top layer are multiplied by those on the bottom layer. After blending, the colors are darker than the originals. Often used for shading in art.

Color Burn

Analog photography uses chemical processes to capture an image, film, or a hard plate using a burning effect. The colors used in the bottom layer are first darkened to increase contrast and then combined with the colors used on the top layer.

Linear Burn

The colors in the bottom layer are first darkened and then combined with the colors in the top layer.

Subtract

The values of the top layer are subtracted from those of the bottom layer. After blending, the colors are darker than the originals.

Lighten

The values of the top layer and the bottom layer are compared and the color with the higher value is displayed.

Screen

The colors used in the layer below are inverted and then multiplied with those on the top layer. The opposite effect of “multiply” is obtained. The color after combining will become brighter

than the original color.

Color Dodge

Dodging is a term used in photography for a technique used to light exposure of a selected area on a photograph. The colors used in the bottom layer becomes brighter and the contrast, lower.

Glow Dodge

This effect produces a stronger effect on semi-transparent areas than [Color dodge].

Add

The values of the top layer are added to those of the bottom

layer. After blending, the colors are brighter than the originals. Adding a color in a digital

environment will brighten the color.

Add Glow

This effect produces a stronger effect on semi-transparent areas than [Add].

Overlay

[Multiply] and [Screen] is applied depending on the color of the layer below. After combining bright areas are brighter and dark areas, darker.

Soft Light

The results differ depending on the brightness of the top layer. When the overlapping color is brighter than 50% gray, display a bright color similar to [Dodge].

 

When the overlapping color is darker than 50% gray combining dark colors will display a dark color like [Burn]. When the overlapping color is 50% gray, the color of the layer below is used as it is. With no overlapping parts, the color becomes white.

 

Hard Light

The results differ depending on the brightness of the top layer. When the overlapping color is brighter than 50% gray, will display a bright color similar to [Screen].

 

When the overlapping color is darker than 50% gray, combining dark colors will display a dark color like [Multiply]. When the overlapping color is 50% gray, the color of the layer below is used as it is.

 

Difference

The color of the top layer is subtracted from the bottom layer and the absolute value of the difference is blended with the color of the bottom layer.

Vivid Light

The contrast is strengthened or weakened depending on the color of the top layer. If the top layer is brighter than 50% gray, colors will apply [Dodge]. If it is darker than 50% gray, will apply [Burn] to create an image with strong contrast.

Linear Light

The brightness is increased or decreased depending on the color of the top layer. If the set layer is brighter than 50% gray, the image is brightened. If it is darker than 50% gray, the image is darkened.

Pin Light

The colors of the image are replaced depending on the color of the top layer. If the top layer is brighter than 50% gray, the color of the bottom layer is only replaced with that of the top layer in the areas where the color of the bottom layer is darker. If the top layer is darker than 50% gray, the color of the bottom layer is only replaced with that of the top layer in the areas where the color of the layer below is brighter.

 

Hard Mix

The values of the top layer are added to those of the bottom layer. It combines the colors with an effect close to [Difference] but with a lower contrast than that. If the top layer is white, it combines the inverted color of the layer. If the top layer is black, it displays the original bottom layer color.

 

Exclusion

An effect similar to [Difference], except with a lower contrast. If the top layer is white, the colors of the bottom layer are inverted when blending. If the top layer is black, the color of the bottom layer is used as it is.

 

Darker Color

The brightness of the top layer and the bottom layer are compared, and the color with the lower value is displayed.

Lighter Color

The brightness of the top layer and the bottom layer are compared, and the color with the higher value is displayed.

Divide

The RGB values of the bottom layer are multiplied by 255 and then divided by the RGB values of the top layer.

Hue

The hue of the top is applied while maintaining the brightness and saturation of the bottom layer.

Saturation

The saturation of the top layer is applied while maintaining the brightness and hue of the bottom layer.

Color

The hue and saturation of the top layer are applied while maintaining the brightness of the bottom layer.

Brightness

The brightness of the top layer is applied while maintaining the hue and saturation of the bottom layer.

Through

Applies the effects and layer blending modes of the tonal correction layers stored in the layer folder also to layers outside the layer folder. [Through] is available only when a layer folder is selected.

Blending Mode Techniques [Beginner]

The 3D Shapes below are all set to normal. Each mode has a greyscale layer on top that will affect the shapes differently below.

By utilizing all of the blending modes when shading your work you can achieve a better understanding of values. As you can see overlay preserves all of the values, multiply only shows the dark values, screen only shows the light values, and ad glow shows the brightest values.

 

In this next example, I've drawn a bowl of fruit in black and white. I've applied other simple blending modes to show how useful they can be!

 

By making the bottom layer my greyscale paintings and my top layer my color I've made other ways to draw! When you make your top layer color blending mode you can add saturated values to colorize your greyscale paintings. Painting in soft light blending mode can allow you to make sepia effects. In my hard light blending more I simply duplicated the layer above, change the gradient map to a chrome color scheme. This is a cool effect to make your art look like its make from chrome or other metals.

This is the top layer only showing the colors I used in the blending modes.

Blending Mode Techniques [Advanced]

When painting scenes the best method to establish daytimes or moods is using blending modes. I've placed different kinds of gradients with the hard light blending mode on top. I've lowered the opacity in between 60% to 70% to tone down the strength.

 

As you can see using darker colors can invoke a mysterious dark setting like hours before sunrise. Adding warm colors create a comforting scene like the sun setting in the afternoon. Play around with the colors and create something new like an alien invasion with greens or more! You have many options!

I'll share 6 advanced tricks using blending modes that I've used in the past for my art. These techniques can help improve your workflow.

 

Neon Sign

Create or add an object and make sure it is a paler color of the glow color you want to achieve. Duplicate the layer on top. Lock the transparency and change the layer color to a more saturated color then unlock the transparency. On the top layer, apply a gaussian blur between 6 and 10. Select 'Color Dodge'. You now have a neon sign effect.

 

Overlay Drop Shadow

Use this on text or art. Make sure you have a scenic background for this to work. Turn your text or art to pure white or #FFFFFF. Duplicate your layer and place your copy layer below, turn the color dark grey or off black. (Don't forget to rasterize your art if it is a material or text) Add a gaussian blur and use 15. Select your layer with the white art Hold Ctrl or Cmd then click your layer to only select the visible pixels. Select your blurred art, and delete the area inside the selection. Select your art that is white and use the 'Overlay' mode, feel free to lower the opacity to your preference. Select the layer with the drop shadow and use Multiply. You should have an overlay drop shadow effect.

 

Texture Multiply

Your art should be in the bottom layer. Your desired texture should be in the top layer. Select multiply on the top layer to give your art a texture effect. Try 'screen', 'overlay', or 'soft light' to decide on what values work best for you.

 

Tattoo

Have your art on the top layer. Use the mesh tool under 'Edit > Transform > Mesh Toom'. Warp the art to the skin or body of the subject. For your art on the top layer use 'multiply'. You should now have a tattoo for your subject!

 

Double Exposure

Open your art. Import a background. Work mostly in the Layers panel click the background layer to select it. Make sure you're working on a white canvas. Select 'Screen' from the blend modes dropdown. Lower opacity to about 75% Add a Layer Mask. Click the “Add layer mask” icon at bottom of the Layers palette. Select the Brush tool and adjust brush size and hardness. Erase the Layer Mask to reveal more detail on the bison layer, or paint to hide detail: Make sure the mask thumbnail on the background layer is selected when you paint. Add correction layer: Layer> New layer > Gradient... Choose a gradient color combo, OK. Choose ‘Overlay' blend mode. You should now have a double exposure effect.

 

Chromatic Aberration

Flatten your art. Duplicate your art 4 times. Convert each layer to a pure Red 255, Green 255, Blue 255, and Black 255. Set all your RGB layers to 'Add' blending mode make sure your original art is still 'Normal'. Transform your top red 255 layers, with your arrow keys move it on the X-axis 1 pixel then Y-axis 2 pixels. Transform your green layer, with your arrow keys move it on the X-axis -2 pixel then Y-axis 0 pixels. Enlarge any RGB layer of your preference by 1 or 2 pixels. By following the steps you achieve a an affect of the RGB values refracting.

 

Thank You!