01 photo art blends manual
By Linda Sattgast
Photo Art Blends | Lesson 1 Lesson 1: Blend Mode Basics Before we move on to the photo editing and digital art lessons, let’s give an overview of one of the most important digital art techniques in this class: using blend modes. If you’ve never worked with Layer Blend Modes, you’re going to be surprised at their power and ability to change the mood of your digital art in just one step. Blend modes are really just what they sound like: blending something into the layers beneath it, with varying levels of color and transparency. Some blend modes like Multiply, Color Burn, and Linear Burn intensify a layer. Others like Screen, Linear Dodge, and Color Dodge lighten. Let’s get started so you can see for yourself! • Open Adobe Photoshop Elements or Adobe Photoshop. • Select File > Open and select a photo from your system. • Click on the Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer button (half black/half white circle) located at the bottom (or top depending on version) of the Layers Panel. Select Gradient or Solid Color. • Choose any gradient or any color to fill the layer with and click OK. We went with a ‘Fades to Transparent’ gradient to distinctly show the impact of the blend mode compared to the original photo. • At the top of the Layers Panel, there is a blend mode drop-down menu that is set to “Normal” by default. Click on the button to reveal all of the different blend modes. • At the top of the Layers Panel, there is a blend mode drop-down menu that is set to “Normal” by default. Now, we’re going to give you a short description of each blend mode and what is happening with the colors (adapted from help.adobe.com). These are the blend modes that we typically use when using Photo Art Blends, but feel free to branch out and use the other ones! Terms to know: Base Color is the original color, or the color in the image on the bottom; Blend Color is the color being applied, or the color on top. “Darken” - This pulls out the darker shade of each image. So any color lighter than the blend color in the bottom image will be replaced with the blend color. “Multiply” - The base color and blend color are multiplied and the result will always be darker. Note that black is never affected. Photo Art Blends © 2013 CottageArts.net, LLC, all rights reserved.
“Color Burn” - This will increase the contrast between the two colors. Note that white is never affected. “Lighten” - This pulls out the lighter shade of each image (opposite of “Darken”). So any color darker than the blend color in the bottom image will be replaced with the blend color. “Screen” - The inverse of the base and blend colors are multiplied, always resulting in a lighter color (opposite of “Multiply”). “Overlay” - Multiplies or screens the image depending on the base color. The base color is mixed with the blend color to reflect the lightness or darkness of the original color. “Soft Light” - Lightens or darkens the image depending on the blend color. Light blend colors will dodge the base color and darker blend colors will give the base color a burned look. “Hard Light” - Multiplies or screens the image depending on the blend color. Light blend colors will make the base color look screened and darker blend colors will make the base color look multiplied. “Pin Light” - When the blend color is lighter than 50% grey, all darker portions are replaced; when the blend color is darker than 50% grey, all lighter portions are replaced. Note: this was my favorite in the example above, as shown in the first image at the top of the lesson. Another cool thing about blend modes is that they can be layered numerous times! And by adjusting the opacity they can be affected dramatically. Here are a few examples of multiple orange gradient layers stacked on top of each other, each applying a different blend mode at varying opacities. Layer 1 is the first layer of the gradient above the photo, Layer 2 is the one above that, and so on. Note: papers, textures, and duplicated photo layers are all also common layers to blend with the photo beneath. Layer 1 - Multiply 70% Layer 2 - Hard Light 85% Layer 3 - Color Burn 20%
Layer 1 - Color Burn 50% Layer 2 - Darken 70% Layer 3 - Pin Light 60%
Now, let’s get using these blend modes in the rest of the class! Page 2
Photo Art Blends © 2013 CottageArts.net, LLC, all rights reserved.
Photo Art Blends | Lesson 1 Lesson 1: Blend Mode Basics Before we move on to the photo editing and digital art lessons, let’s give an overview of one of the most important digital art techniques in this class: using blend modes. If you’ve never worked with Layer Blend Modes, you’re going to be surprised at their power and ability to change the mood of your digital art in just one step. Blend modes are really just what they sound like: blending something into the layers beneath it, with varying levels of color and transparency. Some blend modes like Multiply, Color Burn, and Linear Burn intensify a layer. Others like Screen, Linear Dodge, and Color Dodge lighten. Let’s get started so you can see for yourself! • Open Adobe Photoshop Elements or Adobe Photoshop. • Select File > Open and select a photo from your system. • Click on the Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer button (half black/half white circle) located at the bottom (or top depending on version) of the Layers Panel. Select Gradient or Solid Color. • Choose any gradient or any color to fill the layer with and click OK. We went with a ‘Fades to Transparent’ gradient to distinctly show the impact of the blend mode compared to the original photo. • At the top of the Layers Panel, there is a blend mode drop-down menu that is set to “Normal” by default. Click on the button to reveal all of the different blend modes. • At the top of the Layers Panel, there is a blend mode drop-down menu that is set to “Normal” by default. Now, we’re going to give you a short description of each blend mode and what is happening with the colors (adapted from help.adobe.com). These are the blend modes that we typically use when using Photo Art Blends, but feel free to branch out and use the other ones! Terms to know: Base Color is the original color, or the color in the image on the bottom; Blend Color is the color being applied, or the color on top. “Darken” - This pulls out the darker shade of each image. So any color lighter than the blend color in the bottom image will be replaced with the blend color. “Multiply” - The base color and blend color are multiplied and the result will always be darker. Note that black is never affected. Photo Art Blends © 2013 CottageArts.net, LLC, all rights reserved.
“Color Burn” - This will increase the contrast between the two colors. Note that white is never affected. “Lighten” - This pulls out the lighter shade of each image (opposite of “Darken”). So any color darker than the blend color in the bottom image will be replaced with the blend color. “Screen” - The inverse of the base and blend colors are multiplied, always resulting in a lighter color (opposite of “Multiply”). “Overlay” - Multiplies or screens the image depending on the base color. The base color is mixed with the blend color to reflect the lightness or darkness of the original color. “Soft Light” - Lightens or darkens the image depending on the blend color. Light blend colors will dodge the base color and darker blend colors will give the base color a burned look. “Hard Light” - Multiplies or screens the image depending on the blend color. Light blend colors will make the base color look screened and darker blend colors will make the base color look multiplied. “Pin Light” - When the blend color is lighter than 50% grey, all darker portions are replaced; when the blend color is darker than 50% grey, all lighter portions are replaced. Note: this was my favorite in the example above, as shown in the first image at the top of the lesson. Another cool thing about blend modes is that they can be layered numerous times! And by adjusting the opacity they can be affected dramatically. Here are a few examples of multiple orange gradient layers stacked on top of each other, each applying a different blend mode at varying opacities. Layer 1 is the first layer of the gradient above the photo, Layer 2 is the one above that, and so on. Note: papers, textures, and duplicated photo layers are all also common layers to blend with the photo beneath. Layer 1 - Multiply 70% Layer 2 - Hard Light 85% Layer 3 - Color Burn 20%
Layer 1 - Color Burn 50% Layer 2 - Darken 70% Layer 3 - Pin Light 60%
Now, let’s get using these blend modes in the rest of the class! Page 2
Photo Art Blends © 2013 CottageArts.net, LLC, all rights reserved.
