Greetings, site readers. Today we will talk about blend modes in photoshop(sometimes also called blend modes). I assume you are already familiar with what it is. If not, then I advise you to read about blending modes in Photoshop in the lesson.
Yes, this is the same Blend Mode that I talk about in almost every Photoshop tutorial. The blend modes are located in the layers panel, here:
However, their sphere of influence is not limited to this. and find blend modes also possible in layer styles:
The Photoshop user is free to choose from 27 blending modes:
As you can see, all modes are divided into 6 groups, according to the principle of affecting the lower pixels: standard modes, dimming, brightening, contrast modes, comparison modes and color modes.
Let us now dwell on each group in more detail.
For each blending mode, I will give an explanation, as well as a visual illustration in the form of an overlay of this texture:
For this image:
Standard Modes
Normal(Usual). This mode is the default and has no special blending options.
Dissolve(Dissolution). "Dissolves" the current layer, i.e. removes some of the pixels randomly, resulting in a scattering effect. To see this mode in action, you need to lower the layer's opacity:
Dimming modes
The blend modes of this group darken the image as well as white pixels. become transparent.
Darkens(Replacement by dark) - Compares the brightness of the pixels of the current layer, and the pixels of the layer below. All pixels on the current layer that are darker than the lower ones remain, while the rest become transparent.
Multiply(Multiply) - The name says it all, this blending mode makes intersecting colors 2x darker. It is usually used to darken a very light image or to add depth.
color burn(Color Dimming) — Same effect as the Multiply mode, but the image becomes more saturated.
Linear Burn(Linear Dimming) - Similar to Multiply, except that it dims the intersecting points more than twice.
darker color(Color Darker) - Compares all color channels, highlighting the base and secondary colors, and then displays the color with the lowest value.
Lightening modes
The blend modes of this group lighten the image, and black pixels are replaced with transparent ones.
lighten(Replacing light) - Works in the exact opposite of the Darken mode, that is, it leaves those pixels of the current layer that are lighter, and removes the rest.
Screen(Screen) - Makes intersecting colors 2x lighter. One use case is lightening photos (duplicate the photo layer and apply this blending mode)
color dodge(Backlight Dodge) - Makes the black colors invisible, and the rest of the colors lighten the image on the layer below. Increases the saturation of the image.
Linear Dodge (Add)(Linear base) - Same as Color Dodge, only the brightness is increased, not the saturation.
Lighten Color(Lighter color) - Works opposite of Darker Color mode (displays the color with the highest value).
Contrast modes
The blending modes of this group take into account both light and dark pixels, unlike the previous two. And the modes of this group work with image contrast.
overlay(Overlay) - Blends the pixels on the current and bottom layer, removes the light areas, and multiplies the dark ones.
soft light(Soft Light) - Darkens or brightens the color on the bottom layer, depending on the current color.
hard light(Hard Light) - Similar to the previous one, but the effect is stronger. Darkens the underlying colors if the current layer has a dark color, and lightens it if it is light.
Vivid Light(Strong Light) - Almost the same as Soft Light, but the contrast value is adjusted.
Linear Light(Linear Light) - Depending on the color of the current layer, strongly highlights or darkens the image. Can be used to simulate image flare.
pin light(Point light) - Depending on what colors (dark or light) are on the active layer, moves the colors on the layer below.
hard mix(Hard mix) - Mixing by brightness, we get a very bright image at the output 🙂
Comparison Modes
Difference(Difference) - Aligns the top and bottom images on top of each other. The colors are reversed and their brightness depends on the difference.
Excellence(Exception) - Same as Difference, but the contrast is much less.
Subtract(Subtract) - Subtracts 8-bit colors from the base channels of each pixel on each layer. If the result is a negative, then black is displayed.
Divide(Split) — Divides the colors of the top and bottom images.
Color modes
This group of Photoshop blend modes allows you to overlay only one setting (like color or brightness) without touching the others.
Hue(Hue) - Overlays the color tone of the top layer on the bottom layer, leaving all other parameters of the bottom layer untouched.
Saturaion(Saturation) - The same, only for saturation,
color(Color) - the same for color,
Luminosity(Brightness) - and for brightness.
In general, blending modes give immeasurably more freedom and flexibility when working with images in photoshop than simply changing the settings. And when combined with layer styles and masks, it's arguably the most powerful tool for creating amazing effects.
We've covered everything blend modes layers in photoshop, I hope this photoshop lesson was useful for you, do not forget to leave comments. On this I wish you success, and say goodbye until we meet again in the next lesson.
When it comes to learning Photoshop, it really means learning just a few features carefully, believe it or not. Of course, the Photoshop program is multifunctional and with each new version it is filled with more and more all kinds of tools and options. But do you really need the latest version of the program with its many features in order to process your photos?
You may be thinking, “Yes, of course,” but most likely your answer will be no. With a little knowledge and skills in working with the main tools of the program, you can successfully process most photos. While more properties and options have been added with each successive version of Photoshop, the basic tools you need to know are the same in Photoshop CS3 and in Photoshop 3 when layers were first introduced.
So, what do you need to be able to do in Photoshop? Firstly, to apply the basic selection tools, and secondly, to know what layers are for and how to work with them. Understanding how layer masks work is also important. And finally, you need to know how and when to use layer blend modes, which will be the topic of our today's lesson.
In simple terms, blend modes allow a layer to interact or "blend" with an underlying layer or multiple layers in a variety of ways. Without using blend modes, the only way to blend layers is to lower the layer's opacity (or fill it), which can't lead to very interesting results. Using blending modes, we not only get unpredictable and incredible results, especially in combination with the work of layer masks, but also make it much easier for ourselves when editing, retouching or restoring photos, also saving time!
Of course, as with Photoshop itself, you don't need to know everything about blend modes to successfully apply them in your work. Photoshop CS2 had twenty-three blend modes (including the default Normal mode), Photoshop CS3 added two more modes, making it twenty-five - a huge list to choose from! Names like Fade, Color Dodge, Linear Burner, Difference, and Exclusion are enough to leave you wondering what these modes are and how to use them.
I'll tell you a little secret. Of course, it's not really a secret, but you've cheered up thinking you're learning something no one else knows, so let's call it a secret. As I mentioned, you don't need to know all the intricacies of working with all blend modes. In fact, when processing most of your photos, it is enough to have an idea of the five blending modes. Yes, yes, not about twenty-three or twenty-five modes, but only about five! What are these modes? Multiply, Screen, Overlay, Color and Luminosity. Once you learn how and when to use these modes, you'll be able to edit your photos with ease.
Before we start learning how each of the five blend modes works, let's find out where they are located. If you think you can find them in the Layers menu bar at the top of the screen, you're a little mistaken. In fact, if we wanted to change the layer blend mode every time we clicked on the menu bar with the mouse, then this would be a real problem. Fortunately, Adobe realized that we are all too lazy for this action, and made life easier for us. You can quickly access the blend modes by selecting the drop-down box in the upper left corner of the layers panel. By default, the blending mode is “Normal” (Normal):
The blend mode dropdown in the top left corner of the layers panel
A little important note - if you look at the picture above, you will notice that I have gone ahead and created a copy of the original background layer (by pressing the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + J / Command + J), and now I have this copy selected called " Layer 1 "(Layer 1). I did this because Photoshop treats the background layer differently than other layers and doesn't allow us to change the blend mode while working with it.
If you're not following my steps on your own and notice that your blend mode drop-down box is grayed out (inactive), it's most likely because you only have one layer created in the Layers panel and it's named "Background" ( Background). In order to access the blend modes, you must either make a copy of the background layer or rename the background layer itself.
When you click on the little double-arrow icon next to the word "Normal" and open a window with a list of all the blend modes, you may initially think that there is no sense or logic in the order in which they are placed, especially if you are not familiar with how these modes work. . I'm currently working in Photoshop CS2, which has twenty-three blend modes, and Photoshop CS3, as I mentioned earlier, has twenty-five.
If you look closely, you'll notice that the blend modes are actually grouped together. The top two modes Normal and Dissolve make up the first group, the lower modes are Darken, Multiply, Color Burn and Linear Dimmer. (Linear Burn) make up the second group, and so on. There are six groups in total, and you might think that the reason the modes are grouped together is because these modes have something in common. You are absolutely right!
Although, you would be right not to consider the first group at the very top of the list. The "Normal" and "Fade" modes have nothing in common, and, nevertheless, are combined into one group. You can easily live a lifetime without using the Fade mode as it is quite useless, especially when editing images, while the Normal mode is set by default and means that all layers are adjusted automatically without any changes on your part. .
So the first group is not really a group unless you call it a group of "modes that have nothing in common". The rest of the blend modes are grouped together because they really have something in common with each other. Below is a diagram of all groups:
Schematic showing the different groups of blend modes
As you can see in the multi-colored scheme above (I chose different colors for ease of perception), the blending modes are Darken (Darken), Multiplication (Multiply), Darkening basics (Color Burn) and Linear dimmer ( Linear Burn) make up a group of burn modes. Why? Because each of these modes makes the image darker. Please note that the "Multiplication" mode is included in this group. If you remember, the Multiply mode is one of the five modes that you absolutely need to know, and we will study it in more detail shortly.
Next come the Lighten, Screen, Color Dodge, and Linear Dodge modes that make up a group of lightening modes. Each of them makes the image lighter. Please note that the Screen mode, which is part of the Lighten modes group, is another mode that you should know how to work and which we will look at in more detail.
Below are the Overlay, Soft Light, Hard Light, Vivid Light, Linear Light, Spot Light modes. (Pin Light) and "Hard Mix" (Hard Mix), which make up a group of contrast modes. Each of these modes both darkens and brightens the image at the same time, making it more contrast. Note that the "Overlay" mode you need to know is in this group.
Next comes a group of modes that we won't go into in detail. It includes modes "Difference" (Difference) and "Exception" (Exclusion) and is called a group of comparison modes. Both of these modes are for comparing pixels between layers and are not often used, especially when processing photos. You will rarely need Difference mode, and you will use Exception mode as often as Fade mode, in other words, almost never.
And finally, there is the group of component modes, also known as the HSL group (Hue, saturation (Saturation) and brightness (Luminosity)) by the first letters of the three blending modes included in it, along with the “Color” mode (Color ). All modes in this group affect the degree of brightness or saturation of the layer. The Color and Brightness modes are the last of the five main modes that you need to know for processing and retouching photos in Photoshop.
Thus, we have considered that, despite the huge list of blend modes, there are only five types of blend modes. Modes of the first type darken the image, modes of the second type brighten the image, modes of the third type both darken and brighten the image to give greater contrast, modes of the fourth type compare pixels between different layers, and finally modes of the fifth type affect the degree of brightness or saturation Images. We managed to organize twenty-five, at first glance, completely different blend modes and break them down into five types (with the exception of the Normal and Fade modes, which should not bother us). Not bad for a start! But we can go further, because you only need to know five blend modes to be able to process photos - one from the group of burn modes, one from the group of dodge modes, one from the group of contrast modes and two from the group of component modes.
The first mode that we need to study in detail is the Multiply mode. As we saw earlier in the diagram, this mode is included in the group of dimming modes. This means that the mode is aimed at darkening the image. In fact, this is the only mode in the group of darkening modes that you need to know well, and this mode is also the most widely used of all blending modes. We'll take a closer look at the "Multiplication" mode in the next lesson.
Translation: Ksenia Rudenko
Layering is one of the most powerful features of Photoshop. No serious retouching is complete without working with layers.
Layer blend modes are a big and complex topic. In this article, you can get acquainted with the blending modes of layers and their description. The article will primarily be of interest to beginners and those who have just begun to study the topic of layers in Photoshop, it will also be useful as a cheat sheet on blending modes.
First, let's take a look at the layers panel.
Above the layers menu, select the blending mode, opacity (Opacity) and filling (Fill).
Note. I am often asked the question - what is the difference between Opacity and Fill. The answer is - Fill affects the transparency of only the pixels of the layer, but Opacity affects the opacity of pixels and layer effects.
- Lock transparent areas - you will be able to change only areas filled with pixels.
- Lock Image Pixels - Prevents pixels from being changed by drawing tools.
- Lock Position - Prevents pixels from moving.
- Lock the entire layer.
Bottom of panel:
- Creating links between layers - you can link two or more layers or groups to each other. Unlike selecting multiple layers, linked layers retain their link until you deselect it.
- Applying effects to layers - opens the choice of effects and their control.
- Adding a mask to the layer - a regular, white mask is created, and if you hold down Alt and click on the button, an opaque mask is created.
- Creating an Adjustment Layer - Unlike a regular adjustment, say Curves, an adjustment layer can be changed at any time.
- Creating a folder for layers - very handy when working with a large number of layers, group them.
- Create a new layer.
- Removing a layer.
Now let's move on to layer blending modes.
Layer blend modes
Initially, we have such a landscape picture. Above we have a layer with 50% opacity, below two layers with 100% opacity. Two opaque so that you can see the difference against the sky and against the background of the grass.
Basic - Main group
Normal- The pixels of the top layer are opaque and therefore obscure the bottom layer. Changing the transparency of the top layer will make it semi-transparent and make it blend into the other layer.
Dissolve- Combines the top layer with the bottom one using a pixel pattern. There will be no effect if the top layer has 100% opacity. Lower the opacity to show the effect.
Darken - Blackout Group
Darkens- Compares two sources and replaces light pixel values with dark ones.
Multiply- Darkens the entire image. Useful when needed to increase the density of highlights and midtones. Multiply is like viewing two slides stacked on top of each other. If the top layer is white, there will be no change.
color burn- Allows you to get a darker image with increased contrast. If the top layer is white, there will be no change.
Linear Burn- A more “stronger” combination of Multiply and Color Burn blend modes, dark pixels are converted to black. If the top layer is white, there will be no change.
darker color- Similar to Darken mode, except that it works on all layers at once, instead of just one. When you blend two layers, only the dark pixels will remain visible.
Lighten - Lightening group
lighten- Opposite of Darken mode, darkens dark pixels with lighter ones.
Screen- Brightens the entire image. Use it to lighten dark areas of an image, as well as bring out details in underexposed images.
color dodge- Color Dodge mode is similar to Screen, but noticeably stronger in highlight areas due to the more saturated and contrasting colors of the lower layer. Based on the work of the Dodge tool, which simulates underexposure in the photographic process.
Linear Dodge (Add)- Combination of Screen and Color Dodge modes; light values are converted to white. If the top layer is black, there will be no effect.
Lighter Color- Compares the values of all channels of both layers and displays lighter pixels.
Contrast - Contrast increase group
overlay- Darkens dark pixels (Multiply) and brightens (Screen) light ones, which leads to an increase in contrast without truncating shadows and highlights. If the top layer is 50% gray, there will be no effect.
soft light- A combination of Dodge mode, which brightens light pixels, and Burn mode, which darkens dark pixels. Increases contrast slightly less than Overlay and Hard Light modes. If the top layer is 50% gray, there will be no effect.
hard light- Uses the same method as the Overlay mode, but the effect is stronger. If the top layer is lighter than 50% gray, then the top layer is illuminated through Screen, and if it is darker, then it is darkened through Multiply. If the top layer is 50% gray, there will be no effect.
Vivid Light- If the top layer is lighter than 50% gray, then the top layer is lightened through a decrease in contrast (Color Burn), and if it is darker, then it is darkened through an increase in contrast (Color Dodge). If the top layer is 50% gray, there will be no effect.
Linear Light- Similar to Vivid Light mode. If the top layer is lighter than 50% gray, then the top layer is illuminated through an increase in brightness (Linear Burn), and if it is darker, then it is darkened through a decrease in brightness (Linear Dodge). If the top layer is 50% gray, there will be no effect.
pin light- Combines Darken and Lighten modes to replace pixel values. If the top layer is lighter than 50% gray, the pixels are brightened through Lighten mode, and if it is darker than 50% gray, Darken mode is darkened. If the top layer is 50% gray, there will be no effect.
hard mix- Brightens light pixels and darkens dark pixels to threshold values. This leads to extreme posterization. The glow of the top layer is blended with the color of the bottom.
Comparative - comparison group
Difference- Represents identical pixels as black, similar pixels as dark gray, and opposite pixels as inverted. If the top layer is black, there will be no change. The practical application of this mode can be seen in the article.
Exclusion- Similar to Difference mode, but provides less contrast. Overlaying on black does not lead to any changes, and overlaying on white pixels inverts the compared values, resulting in them being displayed in gray.
HSL - Image Component Group
Hue- Combines the luminance (Luminance) and saturation (Saturation) of the lower layer with the color tone (Hue) of the upper one.
Saturation- Combines the luminance (Luminance) and color tone (Hue) of the lower layer with the saturation (Saturation) of the upper layer.
color- Combines the tone (Hue) and saturation (Saturation) of the upper layer and the glow (Luminance) of the lower layer.
Luminosity- Opposite of Color mode. Combines Luminance (glow) of the upper layer and Hue (color) and Saturation (color fluctuation) of the lower layer.
When it comes to combining or adjusting digital photos, there are two main components at your disposal - layers and applied to them Blend Modes. We will talk about layers in one of the following articles, and today we want to pay attention to Blend Modes in Photoshop and identify the most useful ones for photographers. We'll first look at some ways to blend layers, and then list the top 10 blend modes you can use to enhance your photos.
Each blend mode is based on complex mathematical calculations that Photoshop uses to calculate differences and similarities between the content of the target (overlay) layer and the layer below it (base). Then, based on the selected blending mode, the program blends these two layers in a certain way.
As you'll see below, there are many different blend modes that are useful for a wide variety of purposes. Some modes use the tints and colors of one layer to darken another, while others are the exact opposite of the former.
Some blend modes affect contrast, while others only affect color information.
Next, we'll show you how you can use the different blend modes for the best quality. We'll show you what each of them does and how they can be used to maximum advantage when working with digital photos.
Using Blend Modes
In truth, it should be noted that some blend modes in Photoshop are more useful for photographers than others. While many modes have their own interesting uses, some may have little or no practical effect. Below are the most commonly used blend modes, and the differences between the effects they provide.Each image is divided into two parts. The left side shows the effect of the applied blend mode, while the right side shows the original image.
Color (Color)
Mode color(Chroma) uses the luminosity values of the base layer and the hue or color of the overlay layer. This mode is probably the most useful for complex color effects.
Difference
Mode Difference(Difference) can give some fantastic and unexpected results. It is only suitable for obtaining really unusual and amazing effects.
Screen
Blend mode Screen(Screen) brightens the overall image. Insofar as Screen(Screen) does not affect the black color, the contrast is still preserved in the image.
Overlay (Overlap)
Mode overlay(Overlay) increases contrast by making shadows darker and highlights lighter. This mode has no effect on areas of the image filled with 50% gray.
Mode Multiply(Multiply) takes the colors on the base and overlay layers and multiplies them. This mode darkens the image but has no effect on whites. It's great for, for example, saturating a sky or a texture on light-colored masonry.
Opacity
While blend modes are quite effective, in their purest form they can be overly harsh. Here runners prove their usefulness Opacity(Opacity) and Fill(Fill) on the layers palette.If the effect of a layer that has a blend mode applied is too strong, you can easily tone it down by lowering the opacity. The layer's opacity is a sort of "effect strength control" for the blend mode. For example, if the mode Multiply(multiply) makes areas of the image too dark, just lower the value Opacity(Opacity).
We used a duplicate layer with a blend mode. Screen(Screen), but at 100% opacity the effect is too strong.
After lowering the opacity to about 50%, the effect became more subtle.
Of course, before you can effectively use blend modes, you must select them! So pay attention to where Photoshop's mode selection options are located.
Menu Blend Mode(Blend Mode) in the Layers panel, represents all available blend modes, divided into logically grouped categories. You can select a blend mode from the drop-down menu in the layers panel, or select it from the dialog box new layer(New Layer) when adding a new or duplicate layer.
Once you've selected a blend mode and it's still selected, you can scroll through the modes using the up/down keys.
1. Normal (Normal), Dissolve (Attenuation)
These modes leave the colors unchanged, and have no tonal interaction with the layers below. Mode Normal(Normal) is the default in Photoshop.
2. Dimming modes
These modes darken the layers below. In this group, white is a neutral color, so the white areas don't have any effect on the layers below.
3. Lightening modes
Modes from this group lighten the layers below. Unlike the fade group, this mode group ignores black.
4. Contrast modes
This group of contrast modes brightens the highlights and darkens the shadows on the underlying layer. 50% gray is neutral and is ignored when blending.
5. Comparative modes
These modes compare the colors on the target and underlying layer and subtract one from the other.
6. Color modes
The modes in this group deal primarily with the colors on the active layer and how those colors affect the layers below.
Best Blend Modes for Photographers
Now we'll take a look at the practical application of the blend modes you can use to enhance your photos. We will also talk about the algorithms of the modes, although, in principle, you don’t need to dive into science.Here we'll show you how you can actually use blend modes to fix and enhance your photos.
Remember that each of the recipes described here includes other methods to achieve the best result, but we will tell you in detail what to use, where to use, and what effect can be achieved in this way. Open the menu Blend Mode(Blend Mode) and get started!
1. Lighten (Replacing light) and Darken (Dimmer)
Modes lighten(Replacing light) and Darkens(Dim) do the same thing but in opposite directions. Both of them compare the colors of the base and overlay layers and select either lighter or darker colors from them.
One good use of these modes is to use them together to create a soft focus effect on an image. To do this, blur both layers and apply a blend mode to one of them. Darkens(Blackout), and to another - lighten(Replacing light). For best results, adjust the opacity of each layer.
2. Saturation (Saturation)
Blend mode Saturation(Saturation) uses the color values of the base layer and the saturation of the overlay. Select areas of a certain color on the duplicated layer, fill the rest of the image with 50% gray, and you can achieve an isolated color effect, as we did in the image above.- Suitable for isolating an area of color.
- Works well for attenuating or enhancing color.
Mode Screen(Screen) produces lighter colors because it belongs to the group of brightening blend modes. In mode Screen(Screen), the black color is neutral, so the black area in the center of the overlay layer is invisible. This mode multiplies the inverse of the overlay layer and the layer below it to calculate the difference.
- Used to brighten dark images.
- With it, you can add creative frames.
On a layer filled with 50% gray with a blend mode overlay(Overlay), certain areas of the image can be painted over with a black brush to darken the dark tones. Then, switching to a white brush, you can lighten the midtones and highlights. The depth of the effect can be controlled by changing the opacity of the layer.
As usual, you can moderate the effect by simply lowering the opacity of the overlay layer. Remember that the mode Screen(Screen) has no effect on the black areas of the image, they remain the same as in the original, but you can easily see how the mode has lightened the midtones and highlights in the foreground.
- Used to lighten underexposed photos.
- Adds brightness and contrast to excessively dark areas of an image.
This is the ideal mode for working with low-contrast, flat photos. Like any blend mode, you can apply it to the entire layer or limit the effect with a mask.
- Good for increasing contrast.
- Suitable for making tonal and color adjustments.
- Can be used to add a glow to an image.
After applying a blend mode to a layer color(Chroma), it will colorize the underlying black and white background layer without adding too much change. Mode color(Chroma) does this by calculating the differences between colors.
You can control the depth and intensity of the toning by lowering the opacity of the color layer. This mode can gracefully enhance those colors that you want to draw attention to.
- Used to tone the image.
- Can be used to highlight only a specific area of a photo by using a layer mask.
- Different colors can be applied across multiple color layers with a separate mask for each.
- Mode Multiply(Multiply) is good for darkening areas that are too bright.
- Use it to boost both detail and color in highlight areas.
The brightness of the texture can be adjusted by changing the opacity of the layer. soft light(Soft Light) is part of the Contrast blend modes. It will lighten the highlights and darken the shadows in the image.
- Great for adding subtle textures to an image.
- Can subtly enhance the image contrast.
This mode is especially useful for changing the color of a single object in an image. Using mode Hue(Hue) for a layer filled with a solid color, you can limit the color change to a specific area by applying a mask to the layer.
Where the overlay color is a shade of gray, the image will be discolored. On the gray areas of the base layer, the mode Hue(Hue) will have no effect at all.
- Mainly used for changing colors.
- Useful for manually coloring black and white images.
In the settings of almost all tools responsible for drawing in Photoshop (brushes, fills, gradients, etc.) there are Blend Modes. In addition, the Blending Mode can be changed for the entire image layer.
We will talk about layer blending modes in this lesson. This information will give you a basic knowledge of how to work with blend modes.
Each layer in the palette initially has a blend mode "Normal" or "Usual", but the program makes it possible, by changing this mode, to change the type of interaction of this layer with the subjects.
Changing the Blending Mode allows you to achieve the desired effect on the image, and, in most cases, it is quite difficult to guess what this effect will be in advance.
All actions with Blending Modes can be performed an infinite number of times, since the image itself does not change in any way.
Blending modes are divided into six groups (from top to bottom): Normal, Subtractive, Additive, Complex, Difference and HSL (Hue - Saturation - Lighten).
This group includes modes such as "Usual" And "Fade Out".
"Usual" is used by the program for all layers by default and does not provide any interaction.
"Fade Out" selects random pixels from both layers and removes them. This gives the image some graininess. This mode affects only those pixels that have an initial opacity of less than 100%.
The effect is similar to applying noise to the top layer.
Subtractive
This group contains modes that in one way or another darken the image. This includes Burn, Multiply, Color Burn, Linear Burner, and Darker.
"Blackout" leaves only dark colors from the image of the top layer on the subject. In this case, the program selects the darkest shades, and the white color is not taken into account at all.
"Multiplication", as the name suggests, multiplies the base hue values. Any hue multiplied by white will give the original hue, multiplied by black will give black, and other hues will not become brighter than the initial ones.
Original image when applied "Multiplications" becomes darker and richer.
"Base Darkening" contributes to a kind of "burning out" of the colors of the lower layer. Dark pixels on the top layer darken the bottom layer. There is also a multiplication of hue values. White color is not involved in the changes.
"Linear dimmer" lowers the brightness of the original image. White color is not involved in mixing, and other colors (digital values) are inverted, added and inverted again.
"Darker". This mode leaves dark pixels from both layers in the image. Shades become darker, numerical values decrease.
Additive
This group contains the following modes: Lighten, Screen, Color Dodge, Linear Dodge, and Lighten.
The modes belonging to this group brighten the image and add brightness.
"Replacing Light" is a mode whose action is opposite to that of the mode "Blackout".
In this case, the program compares the layers and leaves only the lightest pixels.
The shades become lighter and “smoothed”, that is, the closest in value to each other.
"Screen" in turn opposed "Multiplication". When this mode is applied, the colors of the bottom layer are inverted and multiplied with the colors of the top layer.
The image becomes brighter, and the final shades will always be lighter than the original ones.
"Base Lightening". Applying this mode gives the effect of "fading" the shades of the lower layer. The contrast of the original image is reduced and the colors become lighter. A glowing effect is created.
"Linear Dodge" similar to regime "Screen", but with a stronger effect. Color values are increased, resulting in lighter hues. The visual effect is similar to lighting with bright light.
"Lighter". The mode is the opposite of the mode "Darker". Only the lightest pixels from both layers remain on the image.
Complex
The modes included in this group not only brighten or darken the image, but affect the entire range of shades.
They are called as follows: "Overlap", "Soft Light", "Hard Light", "Bright Light", "Linear Light", "Point Light" and "Hard Blend".
These modes are most often used to apply textures and other effects to the original image, so for clarity, we will change the order of the layers in our educational document.
"Overlap" is a mode that incorporates the properties "Multiplications" And "Screen".
Dark colors become richer and darker, and light colors become lighter. The result is a higher image contrast.
"Soft light"- less harsh fellow "Overlappings". The image in this case is illuminated by diffused light.
When choosing a mode "Hard Light" the image is illuminated by a stronger light source than when "Soft light".
"Bright light" applies the mode "Base Lightening" to bright areas and "Linear Dodge" to the dark ones. In this case, the contrast of light increases, and dark - decreases.
"Linear light" opposite to the previous mode. Increases the contrast of dark colors and reduces the contrast of light colors.
"Point Light" combines light shades using the mode "Lighter", and dark ones using the mode "Darker".
"Hard mix" affects light areas "Base Lightening", and on dark ones - by the mode "Base Darkening". In this case, the contrast in the image reaches such a high level that color aberrations may appear.
difference
This group contains modes that create new shades based on the difference characteristics of the layers.
The modes are: Difference, Exclude, Subtract, and Divide.
"Difference" it works like this: a white pixel on the top layer inverts the underlying pixel on the bottom, a black pixel on the top layer leaves the underlying pixel unchanged, matching pixels results in black.
"An exception" works the same as "Difference", but the contrast level is lower.
"Subtraction" changes and blends the colors as follows: the colors of the top layer are subtracted from the colors of the top layer, and the colors in the black areas are the same as in the bottom layer.
"Divide", as the name implies, divides the numeric hue values of the top layer by the numeric hue values of the bottom layer. Colors can change drastically.
HSL
The modes combined in this group allow you to edit the color characteristics of an image, such as brightness, saturation, and hue.
Group modes: Hue, Saturation, Chroma, and Luminosity.
"Color tone" gives the image the tone of the top layer, and the saturation and brightness of the bottom.
"Saturation". Here the situation is the same, but only with saturation. In this case, the white, black and gray colors contained on the top layer will discolor the final image.
"Chroma" gives the final image the tone and saturation of the superimposed layer, and the brightness remains the same as on the subject.
"Brightness" brightens the bottom layer of the image while maintaining the hue and saturation of the bottom layer.
Layer blending modes in Photoshop allow you to achieve very interesting results in your work. Be sure to use them and good luck in your work!
