How to Use Blending Modes in Photoshop

✅ Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Open your project in Photoshop.

2. Select the layer you want to blend in the Layers panel.

3. At the top of the Layers panel, find the Blending Mode dropdown — it usually says "Normal" by default.

4. Click the dropdown and select a blending mode.

5. Observe how the selected layer visually changes based on the blend mode and layers underneath.

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🧪 Blending Mode Categories & What They Do

🌑 1. Normal Modes

• Normal – No blending, fully opaque.

• Dissolve – Replaces some pixels with noise when opacity is reduced.

☀️ 2. Darken Modes

These darken the image based on layer comparisons:

• Darken – Keeps the darkest pixels.

• Multiply – Great for darkening or adding shadows.

• Color Burn – Increases contrast and darkens with rich color.

• Linear Burn – Similar to Multiply but darker.

• Darker Color – Compares composite colors and keeps the darkest.

🌞 3. Lighten Modes

These brighten the image:

• Lighten – Keeps the lightest pixels.

• Screen – Opposite of Multiply. Good for lightening and glow effects.

• Color Dodge – Intensifies highlights.

• Linear Dodge (Add) – Bright and vibrant effect.

• Lighter Color – Compares and keeps the lighter colors.

🌈 4. Contrast Modes

These boost contrast using both darken and lighten techniques:

• Overlay – Multiplies darks and screens lights.

• Soft Light – Subtle contrast; like shining a soft light.

• Hard Light – Combines Multiply and Screen harshly.

• Vivid Light, Linear Light, Pin Light, Hard Mix – Use for intense special effects and textures.

🎨 5. Color-Based Modes

These affect color, hue, and saturation:

• Hue – Uses hue of blend layer and lightness/saturation of base.

• Saturation – Keeps saturation from blend layer.

• Color – Good for tinting; keeps brightness from the base.

• Luminosity – Opposite of Color. Keeps colors, blends brightness.

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🖼️ Practical Uses & Examples