Layer Blending Modes

Layer blending modes control how one layer interacts with the layers beneath it.

Normal: Default, shows the upper layer as it is.
Dissolve: Replaces pixels with a speckled, noisy effect depending on opacity.

Darken: Keeps the darker pixel between the base and blend.
Multiply: Multiplies colors, darkening overall—great for shadows or darkening textures.
Color Burn: Increases contrast and saturation by burning darker areas.
Linear Burn: Darkens but with a softer, less saturated look.
Darker Color: Chooses the darker RGB value.

Lighten: Keeps the lighter pixel between the base and blend.
Screen: Lightens by inverting and multiplying—perfect for glows and highlights.
Color Dodge: Brightens and increases contrast—intense highlights.
Linear Dodge (Add): Brightens like adding light—often used for fire, flares, and neon effects.
Lighter Color: Chooses the lighter RGB value.

Overlay: Combines Multiply (dark) and Screen (light). Popular for contrast boosts.
Soft Light: A gentler contrast effect, like shining diffused light.
Hard Light: Stronger effect; like shining a harsh spotlight.
Vivid Light: Intense version of Hard Light, very strong.
Linear Light: Even more intense—rarely used except for special effects.
Pin Light: Replaces pixels depending on brightness, creating surreal results.
Hard Mix: Forces colors into pure red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, yellow, or white.

Difference: Subtracts the blend from the base or vice versa—great for alignment tricks.
Exclusion: Similar to Difference but lower contrast.
Subtract & Divide: Mathematical effects—useful for technical image processing.

Hue: Applies the blend layer’s hue but keeps base saturation & brightness.
Saturation: Uses the blend’s saturation while keeping base hue & brightness.
Color: Applies hue + saturation from blend, keeps base brightness. Great for colorizing B&W photos.
Luminosity: Applies the brightness of the blend, keeps base hue + saturation.

Combine blending modes with layer masks for precise, non-destructive editing.