Blending modes
Most tools can have a blending mode specified for them.
A blending mode controls how the effects of tools in the
tool stack blend together
to form the final photo.
In order to understand blending modes,
there are a few terms to know:
- Base color
-
This is the color of a pixel
before a tool's effect
has been applied to the photo.
- Blend color
-
This is the color of a pixel
after a tool's effect
has been applied to the photo.
- Result color
-
This is the color of a pixel
after its base and blend colors
have been blended together
using a blending mode.
This is illustrated in the figure below.
First, as shown by the green arrows,
the base colors of a photo
have a tool's effect applied to them
producing the blend colors.
Second, as shown by the red arrows,
the base and blend colors
are blended together
using a blending mode
producing the result colors.
There are many blending modes to choose from.
While descriptions for each are below,
it's best to experiment.
- Normal
-
This blending mode has no effect;
therefore, the blend and result colors are the same.
- Gennemsnitlig
-
This is the same as the Normal blending mode but at 50% opacity.
- Brænd farve
-
Darkens the base color to reflect the blend color
by increasing contrast.
(Opposite of Color Dodge.
See also: Soft Burn.)
- Undgå farve
-
Brightens the base color to reflect the blend color
by decreasing contrast.
(Opposite of Color Burn.)
- Gør mørkere
-
The result color is either the base or blend color,
whichever is darker.
(Opposite of Lighten.)
- Forskel
-
Subtracts either the blend color from the base color
or the base color from the blend color
depending on whichever is brighter.
(See also: Exclusion.)
- Udelukkelse
-
Creates an effect similar to,
but lower in contrast than,
the Difference blending mode.
(See also: Negation.)
- Hårdt lys
-
This blending mode multiplies or screens the colors,
depending on the blend color.
If the blend color is lighter than 50% gray,
the color is lightened (screened);
if the blend color is darker than 50% gray,
the color is darkened (multiplied).
This is useful for adding highlights or shadows to an image.
- Gør lysere
-
The result color is either the base or blend color,
whichever is lighter.
(Opposite of Darken.)
- Mellemtoner
-
This blending mode is the same as the Normal blending mode
except that the effect is applied only to midtones.
- Mellem+Højlys
-
This blending mode is the same as the Normal blending mode
except that the effect is applied only to midtones and highlights.
- Multiplicer
-
This blending mode multiplies the base and blend colors.
The result color is always darker.
The effect is similar to drawing on the image with multiple marking pens.
(See also: Screen.)
- Omvending
-
This blending mode is similar to the Exclusion blending mode
except that it shows brighter and more vibrant colors.
- Læg over
-
Multiplies or screens the colors
depending on the base color.
Patterns or colors overlay existing pixels
while preserving the highlights and shadows of the base color.
The base color is not replaced, but is mixed with the blend color
to reflect the relative lightness or darkness of the original color.
- Skærm
-
This blending mode is similar to the Multiply blending mode
except that it multiplies the inverse of the blend and base colors.
The result color is always lighter.
The effect is similar to projecting multiple photographic slides
onto the same screen.
- Skygge
-
This blending mode causes only the shadows to be affected.
- Brænd blødt
-
This blending mode is similar to the Color Burn blending mode
except that the effect results in less saturation and contrast.
- Undgå blødt
-
This blending mode is a combination of both the Color Dodge
and inverse Color Burn modes,
but much smoother than either.
The base colors are darkened slightly
with very bright blend colors dodged in.
- Blødt lys
-
This blending mode darkens or lightens the colors
depending on the blend color.
The effect is similar to shining a diffused spotlight on the image.
If the blend color is lighter,
the image is lightened as if it were dodged;
if the blend color is darker,
the image is darkened as if it were burned in.