graphics-piximperfect/_subsections/chapter05.org

Notes on Lesson 05 - Blending Modes | PiXimperfect

• Links
  • timestamps
• Notes
  • what are blend modes
    • some qualities
  • normal blend mode
    • when is normal not default?
  • multiply blend mode
    • technique 1
    • technique 2
  • screen blend mode
    • using screen for brightening
  • overlay & soft light
    • overlay
    • soft light
    • example 1 | soft light
    • example 2 | overlay

Links

• TOC | Photoshop for Beginners
• Downloadable Practice Files
• Curr: https://youtu.be/doI1eH_nCxs?si=BcvG_GWkiw14l492&t=1193

timestamps

• 00:00 What are Blend Modes?
• 01:07 Important Announcements
• 01:27 Most Important Blend Modes
• 01:45 Normal Blend Mode
• 05:08 Multiply Blend Mode
• 06:30 Darkening with Multiply
• 09:12 Multiply - Example
• 12:02 Screen Blend Mode
• 13:02 Brightening with Screen
• 14:03 Screen - Example
• 17:21 Overlay & Soft Light
• 19:16 Contrast with Overlay & Soft Light
• 19:49 Overlay & Soft Light - Example
• 21:18 Color Blend Mode
• 22:50 Color - Example
• 25:36 More Blend Modes
• 25:47 Quick Recap

Notes

what are blend modes

• control the way layers interact with other layers

  file:../_share/media/img/photoshop-beg-piximperfect/lesson-05/ex-01.png

  file:../_share/media/img/photoshop-beg-piximperfect/lesson-05/ex-02.png

some qualities

• screen makes things brighter
• multiply makes things darker

normal blend mode

• default blend mode (usually)
• keeping the picture on top of another picture

when is normal not default?

• when you create a group the default is "pass through"
• to apply all group filters to within the group change it to 'normal'

multiply blend mode

• multiply darkens
• ignores white
• multiplies dark onto image
• keeps the black and hides the white

technique 1

• duplicate an image
• set it to multiply

• change blending option

  • take away from the dark
  • find current layer slider
  • hold OPTION key, click on slider to break it apart
• problem is that if you change the underlying image, you have to change the multiply image

technique 2

• find an adjustment layer that changes nothing by default
• set it to multiple
• it effectively acts as a duplicate image

screen blend mode

• opposite of multiply

• brightens

  • black hides, white stays

using screen for brightening

1. create a levels adjustment layer
2. change the adjustment layer to screen

3. if the sky for example is too bright

   1. open blending
   2. go to underlying layer section

   3. move the right slider to the left

      • split it apart using the OPT key

overlay & soft light

• pretty much same thing
• different intensities
• they increase contrast

overlay

• hides 50% gray
• anything brighter than 50% gray, becomes brighter
• anything darker than 50% gray becomes darker

soft light

• same thing but lower intensity

example 1 | soft light

link: see example-03.psd

1. create an adjustment layer that does nothing (ie curves)
2. selecte and apply adjustment layer to the image
3. then go to the blending mode and select overlay

this applies contrast to both dark and bright

example 2 | overlay

link: see example-04.psd

• add texture jpg by dragging and dropping over the canvas so it adds as a layer
• use SHIFT to increment rotation by 15 degrees

• select the background layer with the subject and background

  • select the any of the three selection buttons
  • click 'select subject'
  • NOW SELECT THE TEXTURE LAYER (you are masking out the subject on the texture)
  • hold ALT/OPT key and click on mask layer to get a mask of everything NOT in the selection

  • change blend mode on texture layer from 'normal' to 'overlay'