Month: January 2019

Blend Tools

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In this post I will be comparing and describing the different blend modes available in Adobe Photoshop. The different blend modes are ways that you can combine two different layers together. There are 3 parts to a blend, the blend layer (top layer), the background layer, and the result of the blend.

Background Layer:

Blend Layer:

Normal: The normal blend family contains two modes neither of which has any particularly special effects. They are only affected by opacity

  • Normal: The most simple look of the blend modes, also the default mode. Blend layer pixels cover background layer. Can be changed with opacity slider however. 

 

  • Dissolve: Blend layer covers background image. Pattern of blend layer removed depending on opacity value.

Darken: This family characteristically darkens the result. White in the blend layer will not show up in the result.

  • Darken: Chooses which color will be on top based on which is darker.

  • Multiply: Multiplies the luminosity of the base and the blend color. Produces a darker color.

  • Color Burn: Gives a darker color than Multiply, similar to using the burn tool.

  • Linear Burn: Reduces brightness of base color depending on the blend color.

  • Darker Color: Each pixel is determined by choosing the darkest color of the Blend layer and Background layer.

Lighten: The opposite of the Darken Family.

  • Lighten: Color of result is chosen from darkest of either base or blend color.

  • Screen: Result image is brighter than either of the original images.

  • Color Dodge: Gives a brighter result than Screen

  • Linear Dodge: Even lighter results than Color Dodge or Screen

  • Lighter Color: Keeps the brighter color for the result.

Contrast: A mix between the Lighten and Darken Families.

  • Overlay: A combination of Multiply and Screen

  • Soft Light: Softer version of Overlay.

  • Hard Light: More intense version of Overlay.

  • Vivid Light: A more intense version of Overlay and Soft Light.

  • Linear Light:  Uses Linear Dodge on lighter pixels and Linear Burn on darker pixels in the image.

  • Pin Light: Performs Darken and Lighten blend modes at the same time.

  • Hard Mix: Resulting image can only be black, white or a primary color. Very intense.

 

Inversion: Resulting layer is based on differences between background and blend layer.

  • Difference: Resulting blend is difference between the two layers.

  • Exclusion: Similar to Difference. Grays produce Grays.

  • Subtract: Darkens pixels by subtracting brightness from base layer by the blend layer.

  • Divide: Opposite effect of Subtract

Component: Uses different components of colors to create blends.

  • Hue: Hue of blend is made the hue of the Result.

  • Saturation: Saturation of blend is made the Saturation of the Result.

  • Color: Color of blend is made the Color of the Result.

  • Luminosity: Luminosity of blend is made the Luminosity of the Result.