DIY Academy: Photoshop: Blending modes

NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
edited March 24, 2011 in Finishing School
We already got a few interesting "reading group" threads here.

I suggest we start something new: Do It Yourself Academy.

We'll choose a - wide or complicated - subject, break it into pieces, pick up one (per time per person) and finally make a nice complete tutorial out of it.

I suggest we start with Blending Modes.

92420125-L.jpg

Plenty of us see them, many of us use them sporadically.

I personally use Multiply and Screen quite often, but the meaningfulness of the other ones evade me. The brief descriptions like "Overlay: a combination of Multiply and Screen" does not tell me much.:dunno

I want to understand each and one of the blending modes, see the examples of how they work, what are they good for, where to use them, etc. I even would like to know the math behind them, (but if you don't - you can simply skip reading that section:-).

So I suggest we pick up a mode and start crunching it. PS Help, Internet, magazines and books will provide the information, the only challenge is to assemble all that knowledge into concise yet descriptive chapters.

In PS we have the following modes:
  1. Normal (Nikolai)
  2. Dissolve (Nikolai)
  3. Darken (Rutt)
  4. Multiply (Pathfinder)
  5. Color Burn (Edgework, ETA: end of March 2007)
  6. Linear Burn (Edgework, ETA: end of March 2007)
  7. Lighten (Rutt)
  8. Screen (Pathfinder)
  9. Color Dodge (Edgework, ETA: end of March 2007)
  10. Linear Dodge (Edgework, ETA: end of March 2007)
  11. Overlay (Pathfinder)
  12. Soft Light (Edgework, ETA: end of March 2007)
  13. Hard Light (Edgework, ETA: end of March 2007)
  14. Vivid Light (Edgework, ETA: end of March 2007)
  15. Pin Light (Edgework, ETA: end of March 2007)
  16. Hard Mix (Edgework, ETA: end of March 2007)
  17. Difference (Nikolai)
  18. Exclusion (Nikolai)
  19. Hue (Rsinmadrid)
  20. Saturation (Rsinmadrid)
  21. Color (Rutt)
  22. Luminosity (Rutt)
As you can see, it looks like a lot of work. However, some of these modes are fairly close to each other (or so they say:-), like Soft Light and Hard light, so it's fairly possible that a single article can cover several modes at a time without sacrificing the quality, number of examples, etc.

I would assume it will take about 4 to 6 weeks to cover one mode (or a group of similar modes) properly.

I also suggest that whoever writes about Normal mode (which is the simplest of them all) would also cover the Opacity and Fill sliders.

Once we get the articles posted (as separate threads, please, so we can discuss each one of them separately), this list (and this post) will become an index one.

Anybody wanna play? Please reply here or shoot me an email or PM, I will update the index to identify who's working on what.

Let's have some blending going! :wink
"May the f/stop be with you!"
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Comments

  • GouriGouri Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    I'd love to play but not quite sure if I qualify. I know very little. If the idea is to learn/share, I could pick few options, experiment with an image or two and post the process/results. You plan on making a tutorial out of it - any do's and dont's.
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    Gouri,
    Gouri wrote:
    I'd love to play but not quite sure if I qualify. I know very little. If the idea is to learn/share, I could pick few options, experiment with an image or two and post the process/results. You plan on making a tutorial out of it - any do's and dont's.

    The idea is to educate yourself, and while you're at it, try to educate the other, too, so everyone wins:-)

    It's great that you like the idea, but I would personally need something more than just "a couple of images". That I can do myself in no time at all:-).
    What I would personally really like to see (and I'm prepared to play here as well) is something like a capstone project fit into a just few pages of text and examples. Not a book, but not a five-liner either.
    It's not a trivial endeavour by any means, but I do believe that we can do it.
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • steveLsteveL Registered Users Posts: 85 Big grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    good idea...
    I like your idea.

    I use blending modes frequently and occassionally use blending modes with filters. I am not sure why I get some of the results that I do and haven't researched to find out but I think it sounds interesting and educational.

    Here is an example of using the "color" blending mode with the "conte crayon" filter in PSE 2.

    It would be interesting to dissect the actions and to understand why the blending mode works the way it did. Maybe it's obvious to others and if so please disregard this post as a rank amateur showing his inexperience. But I would like to pick up a few tips from some others.
  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    Nik, when you're ready with a final tutorial, we can post it with the rest of them, here! :D
    Moderator Emeritus
    Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    Steve,
    steveL wrote:
    I like your idea.
    ....

    Since you already have some experience, do you think you can create a write up on one? mwink.gif They are all available, so it's easy to choose rolleyes1.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    David,
    DavidTO wrote:
    Nik, when you're ready with a final tutorial, we can post it with the rest of them, here! :D

    I'm sure that once this project is done, it will take its place :-)

    Now, do you wanna play, too? mwink.gif It would be awesome! thumb.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    OK, I start...
    Dissolve is taken, ETA mid-October. Most likely faster, but I don't want to rush and rather make it good than "cheap and fast" ne_nau.gif

    21 more blending modes to go :-) :):
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • GouriGouri Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    I need to get a better idea of what you expect and the format it ought to be. Is there a similar link/tutorial as an example?
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,694 moderator
    edited September 2, 2006
    Nik -

    I'll do Overlay, Multiply, and Screen Blending Modes as I use them all the time.

    It may be October before I get them posted though, between travelling and post graduate education.
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    Jim,
    pathfinder wrote:
    Nik -

    I'll do Overlay, Multiply, and Screen Blending Modes as I use them all the time.

    It may be October before I get them posted though, between travelling and post graduate education.

    Awesome, thank you very much! thumb.gif

    No rush, October is fine! When we get closer we'll update the ETA as we know more...

    As a personal favor, can you pay just a tad more attention to Overlay, since it seems to be a bit less intuitive than the other two..? bowdown.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    Gouri,
    Gouri wrote:
    I need to get a better idea of what you expect and the format it ought to be. Is there a similar link/tutorial as an example?

    There is none... ne_nau.gif

    In essense you need to work it out and be able to honestly tell urbi et orbi that you read and tried everything that was humanely possible withing the time limits and you've covered if not 100% but 99.5% of its applicability.

    Or something alone those lines... :D
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    Gouri wrote:
    I need to get a better idea of what you expect and the format it ought to be. Is there a similar link/tutorial as an example?


    Ultimately, I'm hoping that the tutorials will end up here, and there are plenty of tutorials here.
    Moderator Emeritus
    Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    On the format...
    DavidTO wrote:
    Ultimately, I'm hoping that the tutorials will end up here, and there are plenty of tutorials here.

    What David said... deal.gif:):
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • ruttrutt Registered Users Posts: 6,511 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    What about lighten, darken, color, and luminosity? Give me a month.
    If not now, when?
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    John,
    rutt wrote:
    What about lighten, darken, color, and luminosity? Give me a month.
    I was *so* hoping to see you playing with us, but I didn't dare to ask bowdown.gif
    They are yours! thumb.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    They are going faaast
    Less than a dozen leftclap.gif
    (I stole a few more myself mwink.gif :-)
    1. Color Burn
    2. Linear Burn
    3. Color Dodge
    4. Linear Dodge
    5. Soft Light
    6. Hard Light
    7. Vivid Light
    8. Pin Light
    9. Hard Mix
    10. Hue
    11. Saturation
    I'd say they'd make nice 3 or 4 groups...
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • GouriGouri Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    I'll take
    1. Soft Light
    2. Hard Light
    3. Vivid Light
    4. Pin Light
    5. Hard Mix
    I'll need about a month too.
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    Gouri,
    Gouri wrote:
    I'll take
    1. Soft Light
    2. Hard Light
    3. Vivid Light
    4. Pin Light
    5. Hard Mix
    I'll need about a month too.

    I do appreciate it, truly! Please do not hesitate to email pm me if you need help! thumb.gif

    OK, not that many left:
    1. Color Burn
    2. Linear Burn
    3. Color Dodge
    4. Linear Dodge
    5. Hue
    6. Saturation
    Two to three people maybe...
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,694 moderator
    edited September 2, 2006
    I will be interested to read the thread on color burn, linear burn etc as I never use those modes. I must be missing somethingne_nau.gif

    I will spend more time on Overlay Mode as I find it the most useful, Nik.
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2006
    Great, Jim!
    pathfinder wrote:
    I will be interested to read the thread on color burn, linear burn etc as I never use those modes. I must be missing somethingne_nau.gif

    I will spend more time on Overlay Mode as I find it the most useful, Nik.

    I'm interested in almost all of them, since, as probably many of us out there, I don't use them (except of the few) much and wonder why they are there in the first place..ne_nau.gif
    Overlay is one of those I don't know where or how to use properly...rolleyes1.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • ruttrutt Registered Users Posts: 6,511 Major grins
    edited September 3, 2006
    Here is the blending mode dialog box:

    92572518-M.jpg

    In addition to opacity and advanced blending options (B), the blend-if sliders (A) are incredibly useful. I use them all the time. We covered them a few times in the LAB book reading group. Here, here, here, here, and here. Probably more places as well.

    I know almost nothing about the blending styles (A). I'd like to know more.

    I can try to cover the blend-if sliders in the course of my blending mode explanations, but perhaps we should cover them separately along with the other blending mode styles and advanced blending options.
    If not now, when?
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,694 moderator
    edited September 3, 2006
    I use the Blend IF sliders frequently in LAB in Multiply Mode to darken a background or a sky, but I do not use the the other Blending Modes here much, and I suspect might be some real useful tricks hiding away in here.

    The Blend IF slider really is applying Blending Modes globally, while using a Brush Command offers most of them for local use, without Global effects, doesn't t?
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited September 3, 2006
    Blending Styles
    pathfinder wrote:
    I use the Blend IF sliders frequently in LAB in Multiply Mode to darken a background or a sky, but I do not use the the other Blending Modes here much, and I suspect might be some real useful tricks hiding away in here.

    The Blend IF slider really is applying Blending Modes globally, while using a Brush Command offers most of them for local use, without Global effects, doesn't t?

    Guys,

    I also would like to know Blending Styles better.

    I totally agree with John that this dialog deserves its coverage.

    However, it also seems to me that it deserves a DUE coverage.

    So I suggest: let's finish Blending Modes first and then make the Blending Styles our next topic.

    Of course, we can start the new thread immediately, but it seems a bit premature to me...ne_nau.gif
    There are so many interesting things in PS, but we can't cover them all at once, can we? headscratch.gif

    Cheers!
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • GouriGouri Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
    edited September 3, 2006
    It just occured to me - I have photoshop CS and not CS2. Is that OKne_nau.gif
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited September 3, 2006
    Gouri,
    Gouri wrote:
    It just occured to me - I have photoshop CS and not CS2. Is that OKne_nau.gif
    Totaly fine, this stuff didn't change at all. In fact, I think those modes were there for quite some time, if not from the very inception (I started with CS myself, so I don't know).
    Anyway, CS is perfectly OK for this job! thumb.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • GouriGouri Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
    edited September 3, 2006
    Nikolai wrote:
    Totaly fine, this stuff didn't change at all. In fact, I think those modes were there for quite some time, if not from the very inception (I started with CS myself, so I don't know).
    Anyway, CS is perfectly OK for this job! thumb.gif

    Great thumb.gifthumb.gif
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited September 5, 2006
    We need two or three more!
    Nikolai wrote:
    OK, not that many left:
    1. Color Burn
    2. Linear Burn
    3. Color Dodge
    4. Linear Dodge
    5. Hue
    6. Saturation
    Two to three people maybe...

    Of course, we (the existing players) can pick it up later, but, you know what they say, "the more the merrier" :-)
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2006
    Bump
    Players needed:
    1. Color Burn
    2. Linear Burn
    3. Color Dodge
    4. Linear Dodge
    5. Hue
    6. Saturation
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 19,891 moderator
    edited September 10, 2006
    Nikolai wrote:
    Players needed:
    1. Color Burn
    2. Linear Burn
    3. Color Dodge
    4. Linear Dodge
    5. Hue
    6. Saturation

    If you can wait till late October, I'll do hue and saturation.

    Cheers,
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2006
    Richard,
    rsinmadrid wrote:
    If you can wait till late October, I'll do hue and saturation.

    Cheers,

    Awesome! Hue/Sat are yours! thumb.gif

    Now, if we could only have one player more to cover these:
    1. Color Burn
    2. Linear Burn
    3. Color Dodge
    4. Linear Dodge
    rolleyes1.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
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