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Using blending modes for photographers

Katrin Eismann


This video shows you how to use blending modes in Photoshop to lighten, darken, add contrast, and alter color effects in an image. You also learn how to use two new blending modes.

Requirements

To follow along with this article, you will need the following software and files:

Watch this tutorial in the Adobe Creative Suite 3 Video Workshop.

Using blending modes

  1. In Photoshop, choose File > Open and open the creative_toning.jpg image. This file contains an image of a little girl, which you will tone using a Fill color and the Color blending mode (see Figure 1).

    You will add a tone to this image with a Color adjustment layer.

    Figure 1: You will add a tone to this image with a Color adjustment layer.

  2. Make sure the Layers palette is open. If not, choose Window > Layers to open it. Click the Adjustment Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette, and choose Solid Color.

  3. Choose a blue color from the Solid Color dialog box, and click OK.

    Now the Color Fill 1 layer has completely obscured the little girl. But you'll add a blending mode to fix that.

  4. Display the blending modes using the pop-up menu at the top of the Layers palette.

    Blending modes are grouped by type (see Figure 2). The first group, starting with Darken, all darken the layer. The second, starting with Lighten, lighten the image. The third group, starting with Overlay, add contrast. The fourth, starting with Difference, compare and balance the layers. Think of the last group as modes that "influence" the layer.

    Photoshop CS3 includes these blending modes.

    Figure 2: Photoshop CS3 includes these blending modes.

  5. For example, to influence the color of the image, choose Color. Now the background layer shows through the fill layer.

  6. To create a more subtle effect, adjust the fill layer opacity by dragging the Opacity slider to 35% (see Figure 3).

    The final image was created using a Color adjustment layer and the Color blending mode.

    Figure 3: The final image was created using a Color adjustment layer and the Color blending mode.

Creating contrast with blending modes

You can also use the blending modes to add contrast to an image. You may know that Black and White mode can be used to convert a color image to black and white, and vice versa. But you can also use the color sliders to increase the color contrast, when combined with one of the contrast group blending modes.

  1. Choose File > Open and open the tree_texture.jpg image (see Figure 4).

    You will add color contrast to this image.

    Figure 4: You will add color contrast to this image.

  2. Click the Adjustment Layers icon in the Layers palette and choose Black & White to convert this color image to black and white.

  3. In the Black and White dialog box, increase the Reds to about 75% and the Magentas to 110%. Click OK.

    You just converted the image to black and white, but to pop the contrast and bring the color back, you can experiment with the Overlay, Soft Light, or Hard Light blending modes.

  4. Choose Overlay from the blending mode menu. The Overlay effect is generally a little stronger than the Soft Light or Hard Light modes.

  5. Notice that the mode re-colorizes the image, but not in quite the same way as the original (see Figure 5).

    The final image was created using a Black and White adjustment layer and the Overlay blending mode.

    Figure 5: The final image was created using a Black and White adjustment layer and the Overlay blending mode.

  6. In the Layers palette, turn the adjustment layer on and off by clicking the Toggle Visibility icon to see how the Black and White layer changed the color and contrast of the image.

The Lighter Color and Darker Color blending modes

Photoshop CS3 includes two new blending modes, Lighter Color and Darker Color. Darker Color restricts your edits to the darker values in your image, while Lighter Color restricts them to the lighter values. These are similar to the Lighten and Darken blending modes, but the results are calculated on luminosity values instead of on the color values of each channel.

  1. Choose File > Open and open the Citystorm.jpg image (see Figure 6)

    You will decolorize and add contrast to this image.

    Figure 6: You will decolorize and add contrast to this image.

  2. Click the Adjustment Layers icon in the Layers palette and choose Black & White to convert this color image to black and white.
  3. In the Black and White dialog box, decrease the Cyans to 0% and the Blues to 5%. This darkens the sky and water in the image.
  4. Increase the Yellows value to 105% to brighten the lights.
  5. Increase the Greens to 95% to brighten the trees.

  6. Click OK to apply the adjustments.

    As you've seen in the previous examples, the image has been decolorized and the contrast has been heightened. Now you can experiment with the Lighter Color or Darker Color blend modes.

  7. Choose Darker Color from the blending modes menu. This restricts the Black and White adjustment layer to just the darker channels.

  8. Notice how just the green trees and yellow lights in the image are colorized now (see Figure 7). It's a great way to colorize parts of your image without a lot of work.

    The final image was created Black and White adjustment layer and the new Darker Color blending mode

    Figure 7: The final image was created Black and White adjustment layer and the new Darker Color blending mode.

Combining Images with blending modes

You can also use blending modes for creative effects when you're compositing one or more images.

  1. Choose File > Open and open the Metal_Holes.jpg and Watch_Face.jpg images. In this example, you'll paste the antique watch face on top of the metal sheet.
  2. Choose the watch image, and press Ctrl/Cm and A to select the entire image.
  3. Press Ctrl/Cmd and C to copy the selection.
  4. Choose Window > Metal_Holes.jpg to switch to the other image.
  5. Press Ctrl/Cmd and V to paste the watch image on top. Instead of copying and pasting the watch, you can also drag it into the Layers palette of the other image. The watch now obscures the metal layer.

  6. To reveal the darker areas of the metal layer, choose Darken from the blending modes menu (see Figure 8).

    Apply the Darken blending mode to the image.

    Figure 8: Apply the Darken blending mode to the image.

  7. Choose Multiply to see how this blending mode works (see Figure 9). Generally, if you find you like one blending mode in a group, it's good to experiment with the others to find the best effect.

    Apply the Multiply blending mode to the image

    Figure 9: Apply the Multiply blending mode to the image.

Where to go from here

For more information and additional tutorials, visit the Adobe Design Center.