Practical Photoshop January 2022

Blending Modes let you blend pixels on the selected layer with those below. Each mode employs an algorithm based on the brightness or color values of individual pixels. With 27 modes, it’s not always clear which Blending Mode will give you the best results, so experimentation is key. Hover over any mode in the dropdown to preview each effect, or press Shift-Plus or Shift-Minus to cycle through them. To get started, simply copy (Cmd/Ctrl+C) an image and paste (Cmd/Ctrl+V) onto another image, then go to the Layers Panel, click the Blending Mode dropdown at the top and choose from the list. To achieve a double exposure, for example, set the Blending Modes to Screen.…

The Blending Mode list is divided into six distinct categories. Each gives you some idea of how the modes within will behave. The first section contains Normal and Dissolve. Each of the next five, from Darken to Darker Color, has the effect of darkening down an image in different ways. The next segment, from Lighten to Lighter Color, all brighten the image. Next come seven modes in the Overlay set. These hide gray neutral tones while creating contrast in different ways. Below this is the Difference set: five modes that have an inverting effect on pixels. Finally, the HSL modes in the bottom section blend based on either color or luminance values.…

While there are 27 Blending Modes on offer, there are five or six that you’re likely to end up using far more than the others. Along with Overlay and Soft Light (useful for blending textures) these are Lighten and Darken, Screen and Multiply. Lighten only allows pixels that are brighter than those below to show through, while Darken does the opposite. Screen and Multiply are similar, but they combine either the brightness or darkness values in the layers. Many Blending Modes have counterparts in this way. Screen and Multiply are opposites in the way they fill in the lighter or darker areas of the portrait with the blended abstract image shown here.…

As well as the layer Blending Modes, you can blend layers in Blending Options. Double-click a layer to open the dialog box. The Blend If sliders are useful for gradually fading out highlights or shadows in an effect (hold Alt and drag half the slider to feather the effect). You can also get creative by mixing color channels. Copy one image on top of another, then double-click the top layer to open Blending Options, and toggle the R, G or B boxes on or off. Do the same with the layer below. Here the top layer has the G and B channels turned on, while the bottom layer has R turned on. WATCH THE VIDEO https://bit.ly/3IRA4RO…

The Lighten Mode only allows pixels that are brighter to show through. It’s brilliant for special effects, but also for more practical photography. For instance, the Lighten Mode is hugely useful when lighting a static object over several frames. We can use a tripod to keep the camera still, then use a flash or any light source to lift different parts of the scene over several photos. Combining the frames afterwards is a breeze. We simply copy the images on top of one another (use File > Scripts > Load Into Stack to quickly stack an set of images) then set the Blending Modes of all the layers to Lighten, and use masks to hide any areas you don’t want to include in the mix. It’s a brilliant technique to employ when…

01 To quickly boost a flat-looking portrait, simply add a Black & White Adjustment Layer, then change the Blending Mode to Overlay or Soft Light. Lower the layer opacity until it looks right. Of course, you can also use the sliders in the B&W settings to fine-tune the effect. 02 Alternatively, you can add any Adjustment Layer you like – such as Levels here – then leave the settings untouched, and change the Blending Mode to Screen to quickly brighten the image. Once done, adjust the layer opacity to suit. If you want a darkening effect, use Multiply instead of Screen. 03 A Curves Adjustment Layer is one of the best tools for adding contrast. An S-shaped curve line like this deepens shadows and lifts highlights, so is a brilliant edit for…