DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Blending Mode tutorials?
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 11 of 11, (reverse)
AuthorThread
02/28/2006 01:22:57 PM · #1
Anybody have a link to some good ones that can give me the ins and outs of blending modes? My knowledge is pretty sketchy regarding their use...
02/28/2006 01:30:16 PM · #2
You mean there might be a better way than 'mess about and see'? Wow, awesome :)
02/28/2006 01:30:24 PM · #3
This isn't a tutorial, but it is an explanation of what each mode does (briefly).

//fotofects.com/articles/208/1/Blending-Modes
02/28/2006 01:36:43 PM · #4
that link seems to be broken. Thanks for the help though. I'm searching google myself.

Also, to be more clear, I'm interested in using them for their effects on color and contrast rather than putting together composites.

EDIT: oops, the link worked the second time.

Message edited by author 2006-02-28 13:37:15.
02/28/2006 01:56:06 PM · #5
I find this one to be very useful. Click on each mode for a more detailed look, with examples:

//www.arraich.com/ref/tool_blend_modes.htm

Robt.
02/28/2006 02:14:16 PM · #6
I love working with blending modes, but to tell the truth if I tried to read up about how each separate one works and the technical details behind them I'd just get a headache. Like Kiwipix wrote, I also just mess about and see which one works best for whatever effect I am looking for.
02/28/2006 02:16:27 PM · #7
Originally posted by kiwiness:

I love working with blending modes, but to tell the truth if I tried to read up about how each separate one works and the technical details behind them I'd just get a headache. Like Kiwipix wrote, I also just mess about and see which one works best for whatever effect I am looking for.


Did you check the link I just posted? He's "like us", and it's a very lucid, even slightly humorous, explanation of the modes in real-world terms, including terms of frustration at the more obscure ones.

Incidentally, his site does the same with most photoshop functions. Well worth bookmarking.

Robt.
02/28/2006 02:19:46 PM · #8
Originally posted by Bear_Music:


Did you check the link I just posted? He's "like us", and it's a very lucid, even slightly humorous, explanation of the modes in real-world terms, including terms of frustration at the more obscure ones.

Incidentally, his site does the same with most photoshop functions. Well worth bookmarking.

Robt.


Nice site, thanks for the link. Bookmarked :)
02/28/2006 03:05:48 PM · #9
Ok, I went through both links and I'm already having a headache... so what is the right way to start playing with Blending modes? just duplicate the image on different layers and start applying different blending modes?.

I have seen some images here that look great, some from Joey Lawrence. How can I start? I have played with duplicates of my layers... and I am not really going anywhere, I think Im missing something

Thank you for your advise
02/28/2006 03:42:34 PM · #10
Originally posted by patrinus:

Ok, I went through both links and I'm already having a headache... so what is the right way to start playing with Blending modes? just duplicate the image on different layers and start applying different blending modes?.

I have seen some images here that look great, some from Joey Lawrence. How can I start? I have played with duplicates of my layers... and I am not really going anywhere, I think Im missing something

Thank you for your advise


There's a couple components to this; FIRST, you do somethign that's "different", on a new layer, THEN you change blending modes to change how it affects the layer underneath.

You might start by taking a perfectly ordinary picture, of a landscape say, and making a new layer from BG; this will be identical. Then go to "image/adjustments" and change the levels to make it more contrasty, or the hue/sat to make the colors different, whatever. Now use the rectangular marquee to select the right half of this second layer and delete it.

Now start changing the blending modes of the top layer, and watch what happens in relation to the exposed portion of the BG Layer.

Do this in various iterations of the original, some more subtle and others less subtle, and you'll get a feel for how they interact.

In "normal" photoshopping, two of the most useful blending modes are "multiply" and "screen". Try placing a simple duplicate layer on top of the BG layer, cut off the right half as above, and change mode of the dupe to multiply and then to screen, and you'll see what I mean.

Be aware also that you can asjust the OPACITY of these overlaying layers to mute the effect.

Robt.
03/02/2006 06:56:26 PM · #11
Thank you Bear Music, your suggestions and wisdom is always welcome :)
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 09/09/2025 11:08:49 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/09/2025 11:08:49 AM EDT.