# PhotoshopElements

# About opacity and blending options in layers

A layer’s opacity determines the degree to which it obscures or reveals the layer beneath it. A layer with 1% opacity is nearly transparent, while a layer with 100% opacity is completely opaque. Transparent areas remain transparent regardless of the opacity setting.

You use layer blending modes to determine how a layer blends with the pixels in layers beneath it. Using blending modes, you can create a variety of special effects.

Keep in mind that a layer’s opacity and blending mode interact with the opacity and blending mode of painting tools. For example, if a layer uses Dissolve mode at 50% opacity, and you paint on this layer with the Paintbrush tool set to Normal mode at 100% opacity, the paint appears in Dissolve mode at 50% opacity. Similarly, if a layer uses Normal mode at 100% opacity, and you use the Eraser tool at 50% opacity, only 50% of the paint disappears from the layer as you erase.

Blending layers.

A.
  Bamboo layer and Borders layer

B.
  Bamboo layer with 100% opacity and Color Burn mode

C.
  Bamboo layer with 50% opacity and Color Burn mode

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- Understanding layers
- About blending modes
- About painting tools

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- This page on the Web