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Photoshop Basics
Blending Modes - Part 1
Level: Experienced Software:
Photoshop
Blending modes define how layers, fills, strokes, fades and paths blend. You can easily cycle through the blending modes in the layer window by pressing "Shift++" or "Shift+-" buttons or by highlighting a blend mode and pressing the "Up" or "Down" buttons. Here is a list of blending modes with a description and examples of each blending mode.
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1. Normal
Original colours and opacity are preserved. |
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2. Noise
Noise is added according to the opacity of the blend colour to fill the layer. A 100% opacity will create enough noise to create a solid object. |
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3. Darken
Only blend colours with a brightness value below 50% will be visible. The brightness of the blend colour defines the opacity of the blend colour; if the blend colour has a brightness value of 25%, the blend colours opacity will be 50%. If brightness is equal or less than 50, then opacity equals brightness times two. |
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4. Multiply
Source areas are darkened according to the darkness of the blend colour. Darker blend colours will be more opaque; if the blend colour has a brightness value of 25%, the opacity will be 25%. Opacity equals darkness. |
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5. Color Burn
Opacity of the blend is defined by the darkness of the blend colour. Darker blend colours will be more opaque; if the blend colour has a brightness value of 25%, the opacity will be 75%. The contrast of the source is defined by the opacity of the blend colour. More opaque blend colours will add more contrast to the source colours; if the blend colour has an opacity value of 75%, the source contrast will increase by 75.
Opacity equals darkness.
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6. Linear Burn
Opacity of the blend is defined by the darkness of each colour channel of the source. Darker source colour channels will be more opaque; if the source blend colour has a brightness value of 25%, the opacity will be 75%. Opacity equals darkness of each colour channel. |
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7. Lighten
Only blend colours with a brightness above 50% will be visible. The brightness of the blend colour defines the opacity; if the blend colour has a brightness value of 75%, the opacity will be 50%. If brightness is equal or greater than 50, then opacity equals brightness minues brightness divided by two. |
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8. Screen
Areas are lightened according to the brightness of the blend colour. Brighter blend colours will be more opaque; if the blend colour has a brightness value of 25%, the opacity will be 25%. Opacity equals darkness. |
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9. Color Dodge
Opacity is defined by the brightness of the blend colour. Brighter blend colours will be more opaque; if the colour has a brightness value of 75%, the opacity will be 75%. Contrast of the source is defined by the opacity of the blend colour. More opaque blend colours will be have add more contrast to the source; if the blend colour has an opacity value of 75%, the source contrast will increase by 75.
Opacity equals brightness.
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10. Linear Dodge
Opacity is defined by the brightness of each source colour channel. Brighter source colour channels will be more opaque; if the blend colour has a brightness value of 75%, the opacity will be 75%. Opacity equals darkness of each colour channel. |
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