Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Blending modes
Blending modes affect how the color pixels on one layer blend
with pixels on the layers beneath them. The default blending
mode, Normal, hides pixels beneath the top layer unless the top
layer is partially or completely transparent. Each of the other
blending modes let you control the way the pixels in the layers in-
teract with each other.
Often, the best way to see how a blending mode affects your im-
age is simply to try it. You can easily experiment with different
blending modes in the Layers panel, applying one after another to
compare the effects. As you begin experimenting, keep in mind
how different groups of blending modes affect an image. Gener-
ally, if you want to:
•
Darken your image, try Darken, Multiply, Color Burn, or Lin-
ear Burn.
•
Lighten your image, try Lighten, Screen, Color Dodge, or Lin-
ear Dodge.
•
Increase the contrast in the image, try Overlay, Soft Light,
Hard Light, Vivid Light, Linear Light, Pin Light, or Hard Mix.
•
Change the actual color values of the image, try Hue, Satura-
tion, Color, or Luminosity.
•
Create an inversion effect, try Difference or Exclusion.
The following blending modes often come in handy, and can be a
good place to start your experimentation:
•
Multiply
does just what the name implies: it multiplies the
color in the underlying colors with the color in the top layer.
•
Lighten
replaces pixels in the underlying layers with those in
the top layer whenever the pixels in the top layer are lighter.
•
Overlay
multiplies either the colors or the inverse of the col-
ors, depending on the colors in the underlying layers. Patterns
or colors overlay the existing pixels while preserving the high-
lights and shadows of the underlying layers.
•
Luminosity
replaces only the luminance of the underlying
colors with that of the top layer.
