The blend modes in Adobe Photoshop are an extremely powerful way to mix two layers based on various mathematical equations. It is a vital tool for photographers, graphic designers and 3D artists. Thankfully, you can understand and utilize blend modes effectively without doing the calculations yourself. This article will teach you how to understand blend modes in Photoshop by learning the factors involved.

You should be comfortable with the basics of image manipulation and Photoshop's toolset in order to follow this how to with ease. It will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete it. In this tutorial, you will notice that there are six types of blends which are standard, darken, lighten, contrast, comparison and color. It's advisable that you follow along with each section and evaluate the results yourself by blending the same image with itself.

For brevity, the original bottom layer will be referred to as OP to denote "original pixel" while the top layer used to do the blending will be called BP for "blend pixel".

• You can use calculations to combine masks together using blend modes. Go to Image -> Calculations.

• If the effect of a blend mode is too strong, try lowering the opacity of the layer.

• To get the same effect but only more vibrant, duplicate the layer with the same blend mode.

• Once you highlight a blend mode in the dropdown menu, you can use the scroll button on your mouse or the up and down arrow keys to cycle through them.

Type: standard Process: Each BP remains exactly the same unless the opacity is lowered. If this happens, the blend layer tints the original. Possible Uses: default state for layers, rudimentary tinting

Type: standard Process: Exchanges pixels from one layer to the other randomly. It's effect is based on opacity. If opacity is low, the OP shows up in the result. However, if it's high, the BP ends up in the result. Possible Uses: grunge and other grainy special effects

Type: darken Process: Compares the OP and BP then uses the darkest one in the result. Possible Uses: blending a color with a texture, darkening a part of a photograph with a mask

Type: darken Process: Makes the OP darker based on the darkness of the BP. The color white disappears. Possible Uses: blending a pattern on a white background with a texture, darkening a part of a photographt.

Type: darken Process: The result is a darker BP with more contrast based on the darkness of the OP. As the OP gets darker, more of its color comes out and contrast increases in the result. The color white disappears. Possible Uses: blending a pattern on a white background with a texture to get richer, dark colors, changing darkness of colors and tone in a photograph

Type: darken Process: The result is a darker BP with lower brightness based on the darkness of the OP. As the OP gets darker, more of its color comes out and brightness decreases in the result. Contrast isn't effected. It's duller than color burn. The color white disappears. Possible Uses: blending a pattern on a white background with a texture to get richer, dark colors, changing darkness of colors and tone in a photograph

Type: lighten Process: Compares the OP and BP then uses the lightest one in the result. It's the opposite of darken. The color black disappears. Possible Uses: blending a pattern on a black background with a texture, lightening a part of a photograph with a mask

Type: lighten Process: Makes the OP lighter based on the lightness of the BP. It's the opposite of multiply. The color black disappears. Possible Uses: blending a pattern on a black background with a texture, lightening a part of a photograph, light special effects

Type: lighten Process: The result is a lighter BP with less contrast based on the lightness of the OP. As the OP gets lighter, more of its color comes out and contrast increases in the result. It's the opposite of color burn. The color black disappears. Possible Uses: blending a pattern on a black background with a texture to get lighter colors with contrast, changing lightness of colors and tone in a photograph

Type: lighten Process: The result is a lighter BP with higher brightness based on the lightness of the OP. As the OP gets lighter, more of its color comes out and brightness increases in the result. Contrast isn't effected. It's more intense than color dodge. It's the opposite of linear burn. The color black disappears. Possible Uses: blending a pattern on a white background with a texture to get richer, dark colors, changing darkness of colors and tone in a photograph

Type: contrast Process: Overall, darker values will be darker while lighter values get lighter. It's a combination of multiply and screen. A BP lighter than 50% gray gives a lightened result while a BP darker than 50% gray yields a darkened result. 50% gray disappears. Possible Uses: preserving highlights and shadows, great for blending patterns on a 50% gray background with textures, adds contrast to photographs

Type:contrast Process: same as overlay but with softer result Possible Uses: an alternative to overlay when the result is too dramatic

Type: contrast Process: This is a more intense version of overlay. A BP lighter than 50% gray gives a lightened result with more contrast while a BP darker than 50% gray yields a darkened result with less contrast. Pure black and white gives back black and white. 50% gray disappears. Possible Uses: blending patterns on a 50% gray background with textures, adding richer contrast to photographs

Type: contrast Process: It is a combination of dodge and burn. A BP lighter than 50% gray gives a result with decreased contrast while a BP darker than 50% gray yields a result with increased contrast. 50% gray disappears. Possible Uses: adjust color and tone, glow special effects

Type: contrast Process: A BP lighter than 50% gray gives a result with increased brightness while a BP darker than 50% gray yields a result with decreased brightness. 50% gray disappears. Possible Uses: adjust color and tone

Type: contrast Process: If a BP is lighter than 50% gray, an OP lighter than it doesn't change.Yet, if a BP is darker than 50% gray, a lighter OP is replaced. An OP that is darker than the BP doesn't change. 50% gray disappears. Possible Uses: adjust color and tone, special effects.

Type: contrast Process: It's a combination of dodge and burn. A BP lighter than 50% gray gives a dodged result while a BP darker than 50% gray yields a burned result. Possible Uses: making a photo look like an illustration

Type: comparison Process: Subtracts the BP from the OP. If the difference in values is big, the result is lighter. However, if the difference is small, the result is darker. Possible Uses: making reversed patterns, aligning identical images

Type: comparison Process: same as difference but with less contrast Possible Uses: making reversed patterns, aligning identical images

Type: color Process: Takes the hue from the BP and saturation and luminance from the OP. Possible Uses: altering the hue value of the original without disturbing the other HSL values

Type: color Process: Takes the saturation from the BP and hue and luminance from the OP. Possible Uses: altering the saturation value of the original without disturbing the other HSL values

Type: color Process: Takes the luminance from the OP and hue and saturation from the BP. Possible Uses: tinting, coloring monochromatic photographs

Type: color Process: Takes the luminance from the BP and hue and saturation from the OP. Possible Uses: removing halos from pictures, adding neon line effects to graphics