Shoppe Tips and Tricks (blending modes)

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Hello everyone! It’s Kylie, and I’m back with a Shoppe tips and tricks post on blending modes.

 For the Sandbox Product Spotlight, June 22, I created this layout:

I received a few questions about what technique I used to fade the larger picture into the background paper.  I’d only recently discovered the “blending” drop-down box in Photoshop and had to try it out. I’m completely self-taught and a very, very curious user – I love to play!! This was my second attempt at blending. I’m now going to show you exactly how I went about achieving my final layout. Please note that this may not be the “official” way, but as a beginner it works for me. Plus, blending really is all about playing and trying different options until you achieve the look you are after – sometimes a real case of trial and error!  I also hope that users of programs other than Photoshop can take away a tip or two that is relevant :o)

So on with the ‘tutorial’… I found that my layout contained too much negative space for my liking. So I decided to include another photo and add a little bit of perspective at the same time. However I didn’t want this new photo to take over the whole page so thought blending might be the way to go.

I added my photo to the layout.

Then I created a new layer which I called “blending layer” so as not to confuse myself. Using the custom shape tool, I added a rectangular ‘solid’ shape to this new layer. ( I did this because I had decided I would soften the edges of the photo and didn’t want to erase the photo itself – this is optional!)

 Ensuring that the newly added photo was positioned above my “blending layer”, I right clicked on my “blending layer” in the Layers palette and chose “Create Clipping Mask”.

Next step is to chose the eraser tool. Making sure it was a circle brush with soft edges. It was approximately 500 pixels in diameter (my initial layout was a 12” x 12” page). I started erasing the edges of my “blending layer” until I was happy with the shape. I then selected my photo layer and moved it around a bit until I was happy with its position within my “blending layer” clipping mask. After triple checking that I was indeed satisfied with my newly edited image, I then merged the photo layer and the “blending layer” into one layer.

I then moved my cursor to the blending modes drop down box in my Layers palette. Moving through the different modes I finally chose Hard light as the blending mode I was most happy with. Next, I played around with the opacity (the slider directly next to the blending modes drop down box) until I was satisfied – reducing it to 45% opacity to allow some of the paper design to show through. As a result I had basically created my very own photo mask and then blended it with my background paper. Too easy!!

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Read on for more blending tips and tricks: 

Since the Product Spotlight I have been experimenting a little more with blending modes. And I’m only starting to realize how many applications they have.  I’m now going to share with you what I have discovered so far. 

Here is a photo of some hydrangea flowers from my sister’s garden. I thought it would illustrate the differences with each mode rather well. So, I created a blending modes list for you and then with the help of Adobe Photoshop Help provided an explanation of each. Now it is important to note that your photo, paper(s), element(s), color of text etc., as well as the layer order, will ultimately determine the end blending result.

Blending basically controls how the pixels in each layer interact with each other.

Base color + Blend color = Result color

For my blending modes list example – the cardboard is the base color and the photo is the blend color. Again a different result would happen if we reversed the layer order of the cardboard and the photo.

Again, this is essentially a copy/paste from Adobe’s website HERE, so you can reference back.  Here is how they define/describe all of the different blending modes:

Normal

This is the default mode.  No change in layer.

Darken modes

Darken : selects the base or blend color—whichever is darker—as the result color. Pixels lighter than the blend color are replaced, and pixels darker than the blend color do not change.

Multiply : multiplies the base color by the blend color. The result color is always a darker color. Multiplying any color with black produces black. Multiplying any color with white leaves the color unchanged.

Color burn: darkens the base color to reflect the blend color by increasing the contrast. Blending with white produces no change.

Linear burn: darkens the base color to reflect the blend color by decreasing the brightness. Blending with white produces no change.

Darker color: compares the blend and base color and displays the lower value color. Darker color does not produce a third color, which can result from the Darken blend.

Lighten modes

Lighten: selects the base or blend color—whichever is lighter—as the result color. Pixels darker than the blend color are replaced, and pixels lighter than the blend color do not change.

Screen: multiplies the inverse of the blend and base colors. The result color is always a lighter color. Screening with black leaves the color unchanged. Screening with white produces white. The effect is similar to projecting multiple photographic slides on top of each other.

Color dodge: brightens the base color to reflect the blend color by decreasing the contrast. Blending with black produces no change.

Linear dodge (Add): brightens the base color to reflect the blend color by increasing the brightness. Blending with black produces no change.

Lighter color: compares the total of all channel values for the blend and base color and displays the higher value color. Lighter color does not produce a third color, which can result from the Lighten blend.

Contrast modes

Overlay: multiplies or screens the colors, depending on the base color. Patterns or colors overlay the existing pixels while preserving the highlights and shadows of the base color. The base color is not replaced, but mixed with the blend color to reflect the lightness or darkness of the original color.

Soft light: 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 (light source) is lighter than 50% gray, the image is lightened as if it were dodged. If the blend color is darker than 50% gray, the image is darkened as if it were burned in.

Hard light: multiplies or screens the colors, depending on the blend color. The effect is similar to shining a harsh spotlight on the image. If the blend color (light source) is lighter than 50% gray, the image is lightened, as if it were screened. This is useful for adding highlights to an image. If the blend color is darker than 50% gray, the image is darkened, as if it were multiplied. This is useful for adding shadows to an image.

Vivid light: burns or dodges the colors by increasing or decreasing the contrast, depending on the blend color. If the blend color (light source) is lighter than 50% gray, the image is lightened by decreasing the contrast. If the blend color is darker than 50% gray, the image is darkened by increasing the contrast.

Linear light: burns or dodges the colors by decreasing or increasing the brightness, depending on the blend color. If the blend color (light source) is lighter than 50% gray, the image is lightened by increasing the brightness. If the blend color is darker than 50% gray, the image is darkened by decreasing the brightness.

Pin light: replaces the colors, depending on the blend color. If the blend color (light source) is lighter than 50% gray, pixels darker than the blend color are replaced, and pixels lighter than the blend color do not change. If the blend color is darker than 50% gray, pixels lighter than the blend color are replaced, and pixels darker than the blend color do not change. This is useful for adding special effects to an image.

Hard mix: this changes all pixels to primary colors: red, green, blue, cyan, yellow, magenta, white, or black.

 Comparative modes

Difference: looks at the color information in each channel and subtracts either the blend color from the base color or the base color from the blend color, depending on which has the greater brightness value. Blending with white inverts the base color values; blending with black produces no change.

Exclusion: creates an effect similar to but lower in contrast than the Difference mode. Blending with white inverts the base color values. Blending with black produces no change.

Composite modes

Hue: creates a result color with the luminance and saturation of the base color and the hue of the blend color.

Saturation: creates a result color with the luminance and hue of the base color and the saturation of the blend color.

Color: creates a result color with the luminance of the base color and the hue and saturation of the blend color. This preserves the gray levels in the image and is useful for coloring monochrome images and for tinting color images.

Luminosity: creates a result color with the hue and saturation of the base color and the luminance of the blend color. This mode creates the inverse effect of Color mode.

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After my research, for my next ‘blending’ layout I decided that I wanted to use this new-found technique to create a vintage look to my hydrangea photo. By again choosing the ‘cardboard’ paper from HopScotch and selecting Hard light at 75% opacity, I was able to achieve a vintage look without the use of a photo action. You can even see the creases in the cardboard emerging through the photo. Using textured paper as a blending base is a great way to add interest to another paper, photo etc. (As I did not erase the edges or change the photo shape in any way there was no need to create a new custom shape layer as I demonstrated in my Sandbox layout – I just simply blended the flower photo with the paper layer below – both the same size.)

Here are two more layouts where I have experimented with blending.

Dark paper – Lighten blend mode at 50% opacity  ~~~  Light paper – Soft light blend mode at 95% opacity

 Some other blending tips:

• Select a paper that will complement your photo – neutral is best with soft patterns or none at all
• Textured papers work well and provide interest and depth
• If using a strong patterned paper as a base you may need to softly erase, blur, lighten etc. some of the pattern under the whole or just part of the image – so that the pattern does not overtake the main details of your photo
• You can blend two or more papers together to create a totally new paper
• You can blend text with your base paper for a more defined ‘written’ effect
• You can use layer masks and gradients to create blending – I’ve yet to master this
• I’m sure that there are more that I have yet to discover! If you know of any, why not add a comment to this post. We would love to hear your ideas! :o)

I hope that this post has given those new to the world of blending some helpful information and a bit of inspiration to give it a go. I’ve started out with just a few basic blends and am now looking forward to mastering something a little more technical – I’ll keep you posted! It’s all about experimenting – so have fun – and you’ll be amazed at the different looks you can achieve!

Be sure to check in tomorrow for a “fresh” and fabulous blog post!

KylieInspiration, Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized 16 Comments