Unleash Incredible Power with Blend Modes in Photoshop
While that may sound like an epic headline for a less than interesting topic, Blend Modes in Photoshop will do many things for your images. Blend Modes increase workflow efficiency by making difficult tasks extremely easy. At first Blend Modes in Photoshop are quite the mystery, but with a bit of experimentation and poking around on Adobe’s Help Forum, anything is possible.
In the last two weeks I have had more requests for a Blend Mode tutorial than any other topic in EverydayHDR history. While that may be the perfect opportunity to monopolize on a topic that the masses want to see more of, you have to understand how difficult this is to put together. They are not very easy to demonstrate and articulate unless you have a degree in pixel psychoanalysis from Adobe headquarters (I don’t have one of these). Many of them are easier than others, but stroll through the Adobe help forum and read their descriptions of the Blend Modes sometime, I felt like English was my second language.
To alleviate some of the stress of discussing all of the Blend Modes in Photoshop, I decided to focus fire on a few that are the most important in your photographic workflow. In this tutorial we will be discussing the following workflow items and which blend modes will be most advantageous.
- Darkening a photograph
- Lightening a photograph
- Dodging and Burning
- Layer Alignment
- Color Grading/Tinting
- Tone without Color Adjustments
Don’t get your head in a tizzy with the Blend Modes in Photoshop. Instead try to experiment with them. Look at cause and effect. Take notes and dissect each mode as it affects your image. Please feel free to download the Blend Modes Template I created for this tutorial and test it out on the provided image or a photo of your own.
Download the Blend Mode Template
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For Blake, it's all about the art and process synergy. He dives deep into complex topics and makes them easy to understand through his outside-the-box thinking so that you can use these tricks in your workflow today!
Wow! Great explanation of blending modes.
I especially liked you explanation of Soft Light, Difference, Color and Luminosity.
I’ve never really had much use for Soft Light, Difference and Color in the past. Thank you for opening up the possibilities of these three blend modes.
Thank you for the feedback, Georgia! Blend Modes are essential to workflow efficiency. I use them so often they are almost like second nature to me.
that is a super video and so interesting
Thanks, Brendan. Blend Modes are amazing.
Thanks so easy to understand, very helpful
Thank you so much for this tutorial. You made blend modes so easy to understand. I have never really used them before but after watching your tutorial I feel much more confident to experiment with them.
Don’t let them scare you, they are like puppys and not permanent! They really are pretty powerful.
Thank you so much for this great tutorial. I’m going to have a lot of fun experimenting with blend modes. . . 🌹
Great tutorial! I’ve recently been using blend modes – mainly soft light – but after this I’ve got a much better understanding of them and look forward to experimenting even more! I especially loved the difference trick for focus stacking and the color/luminosity tricks! Thank you!
Now that was cool Blake – I learned a ton. I case you haven’t heard this before you make things so simple and understandable Thank You!
Thanks, Jerry! I do appreciate the feedback on my teaching style. It fuels my fire to make them even better!