Photoshop
Tutorial
Tutorial #15
Blending Modes for Landscape Photographers
In Tutorial #12 we looked at Layers and discovered how powerful they can be in transforming an image. In this tutorial we shall take this a little further and look at Blending Modes - and in particular the ones that are of most use to a landscape photographer.What are Blending Modes?
In Tutorial 12 we showed how layers are stacked on top of each other. Blending modes give us various ways of making those layers blend together and can give very exciting results. The problem is that in the latest version of Photoshop there are 25 different blending modes which can be a little daunting, so this tutorial goes a little way to explaining what each one does and therefore identifying those that will be of greatest use to a photographer. Why? Because most of the blending modes are designed specifically for artists and graphic designers rather than just for relatively minor tweaking of an image file. If we know which ones they are we can concentrate on the very few that can help us in our quest to master landscape image editing.
Most tutorials use two totally different images to show the blending effect such as a portrait and a texture (and this is the most thorough way if you need to know exactly how every one works as an artist and as a photographer) but we only want to know about the effect on a simple landscape image - or at least two different layers produced from the same image - and so the examples in this tutorial are derived as follows:
The Background layer is a simple landscape (well, OK, it's actually a seascape).
The Top layer is the same landscape but with the exposure increased (lightened) in the foreground but decreased (darkened) in the sky.
The Result is the blend between the Background layer and the Top layer after applying a Blending Mode (and sometimes adjusting the Opacity).
Where are they?
The Blending Mode pop-up box can be found at the top of the Layers Palette. Click on the small black down-arrow to see all 25 of them.
Note: Because, by definition, Blend Modes combine two layers together you cannot access the Blend Mode pop-up box when you only have one Background layer.
Individual Blending Modes:
The 25 different blending modes can first of all be split into general categories as such:
Let's look at each in turn and decide whether they are useful for general image editing. A stated above we are using two layers from the same landscape image which was taken at dusk on Poppit Sands, Pembrokeshire, Wales:
The Background layer is the original taken in-camera:
We are now going to see what each Blend Mode does to the two layers and, where necessary, adjust the opacity to optimise the effect.
Normal
The Normal Blending Mode is the default setting and applies no blending to the image. With the opacity set to 100% then only the Top Layer is seen:
Background layer
+
Top layer
Normal
Blending
Mode
=
With the opacity reduced to 50% then the image is now exposed halfway between the original Background layer and the Top layer - the sky is a little darker and the foreground a little lighter than the original.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Normal
Blending
Mode
@
50%
Opacity
=
The Normal Blending Mode is useful when you have created an adjustment layer and then wish to fine-tune the effect by 'fading it out' using the opacity slider.
Dissolve
There is no secret that the Dissolve blending mode is next to useless for basic image editing. What it does is, for each pixel, choose it's colour randomly from either the Background Layer or the Top layer. At 100% opacity you will only see the Top layer but at 50% opacity you can see a speckled effect from the random light and dark pixels.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Dissolve
Blending
Mode
=
This is not a good look on a landscape and so you can see that the Dissolve Blending Mode is rarely used for landscape photography image editing.
The next 5 Blending Modes generally DARKEN an image using various different methods. You will see that only one is of any real use to the photographic image editor. Darken
Obviously the Darken Blending Mode is going to darken the image but it does so by only choosing the darkest pixels from all the colour channels in both layers. At 100% it has the dark foreground of the Background layer and the dark sky of the Top layer.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Darken
Blending
Mode
=
The Darken Blending mode can be a way to 'balance' an image where there is a big exposure range across the scene - although there are quicker and easier methods to achieve the same goal.
Multiply
The Multiply Blending Mode darkens the image by multiplying the colours in the Background layer with those on the Top layer. The best analogy is to imagine looking through two photographic slides sandwiched together.
Initially it may seem that this is no good either - the sky looks more interesting but the foreground is too dark:
Background layer
+
Top layer
Multiply
Blending
Mode
=
But by increasing the exposure a little the image starts to come alive:
Background layer
+
Top layer
Multiply
Blending
Mode
Exp +
=
With further adjustments using Layer Masks, for instance, this could become very interesting:
The Multiply Blending Mode is one of the most useful for landscape photography image editing since it builds up density of colour in lighter areas, particularly skies but may require the use of Layer Masks to protect the darker areas.
Colour Burn
The explanations tend to get more complicated now - but the Colour Burn Blending Mode darkens the image by increasing the contrast in the Background layer depending on the lightness/darkness of the Top layer. So there is a greater increase in contrast where the Top layer is dark and no change to contrast when the Top layer is white.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Colour
Burn
Blending
Mode
=
This blending mode tends to produce quite harsh results, such as in our example which has a lot of dark areas in the Top layer. You can see that the only parts untouched are the light areas of sea and sky. It would improve by reducing the opacity but it doesn't really work with this image. It works best with a very light image when you want to specifically generate more tone in the darker areas whilst leaving the lighter areas unchanged.
In specific circumstances this blending mode can be useful as an alternative to the Multiply Blending Mode since you don't need Layer Masks to protect the lighter areas.
Linear Burn
Very similar to the Colour Burn Blending Mode but the Linear Burn Blending Mode darkens the image by reducing brightness in the Background layer (as opposed to increasing contrast) depending on the lightness/darkness of the Top layer. So there is a greater decrease in brightness where the Top layer is dark and no decrease in brightness when the Top layer is white.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Linear
Burn
Blending
Mode
=
Again, this blending mode tends to produce quite harsh results, such as in our example which has a lot of dark areas in the Top layer. You can see that the only parts untouched are the light areas of sea and sky. It would improve by reducing the opacity but it doesn't really work with this image.
In specific circumstances this blending mode can be useful as an alternative to the Multiply Blending Mode since you don't need Layer Masks to protect the lighter areas.
Darker ColourVery, very similar to the Darken Blend Mode but the Darker Colour Blending Mode darkens the image by only choosing the darkest pixels from the luminance (not colour) channels in both the Background Layer and the Top Layer.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Darker
Colour
Blending
Mode
=
For landscape photographic image editing there is little to choose between Darken and Darken Colour Blending Modes - and neither are used very often.
The next 5 Blending Modes generally LIGHTEN an image using various different methods. They are all the exact opposites of the 5 Blending Modes above and so you will see that only one is of any real use to the photographic image editor. Lighten
The exact opposite of the Darken Blending Mode, the Lighten Blending Mode lightens the image but it does so by only choosing the lightest pixels from all the colour channels in both layers. At 100% it has the light sky of the Background layer and the light foreground of the Top layer.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Lighten
Blending
Mode
=
The Lighten Blending mode can be a way to 'balance' an image where there is a big exposure range across the scene - although there are quicker and easier methods to achieve the same goal.
Screen
The exact opposite of the Multiply Blending Mode, the Screen Blending Mode lightens the image by multiplying the inverse of the colours in the Background layer with those on the Top layer. The best analogy is to imagine projecting two photographic slides onto the same screen (hence the name of this Blending Mode).
Background layer
+
Top layer
Screen
Blending
Mode
=
Initially it may seem that this blending mode is no good either - the sky and the foreground is too light. However, it can be very useful, when combined with Layer Masks, to lighten underexposed areas of an image in a natural way.
Colour Dodge
The Colour Dodge Blending Mode lightens the image by decreasing the contrast in the Background layer depending on the lightness/darkness of the Top layer. So there is a greater decrease in contrast where the Top layer is light and no change to contrast when the Top layer is black.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Colour
Dodge
Blending
Mode
=
As an exact opposite of the Colour Burn Blending mode, the Colour Dodge Blending Mode works best with an image that is predominantly dark (as with this example) where it creates more tone in the lighter areas of the image whilst leaving the darker areas unchanged.
In specific circumstances this blending mode can be useful as an alternative to the Screen Blending Mode since you don't need Layer Masks to protect the darker areas.
Linear Dodge
Very similar to the Colour Dodge Blending Mode but the Linear Dodge Blending Mode lightens the image by increasing brightness in the Background layer (as opposed to decreasing contrast) depending on the lightness/darkness of the Top layer. So there is a greater increase in brightness where the Top layer is light and no decrease in brightness when the Top layer is black.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Linear
Dodge
Blending
Mode
=
In specific circumstances this blending mode can be useful as an alternative to the Screen Blending Mode since you don't need Layer Masks to protect the darker areas.
Lighter Colour
Very, very similar to the Lighten Blending Mode but the Lighter Colour Blending Mode lightens the image by only choosing the lightest pixels from the luminance (not colour) channels in both the Background Layer and the Top Layer.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Lighter
Colour
Blending
Mode
=
For landscape photographic image editing there is little to choose between Lighten and Lighter Colour Blending Modes - and neither are used very often.
The next 7 Blending Modes generally INCREASE CONTRAST in an image using various different methods.
Overlay
The Overlay Blending Mode is a combination of the Multiply Blending Mode and the Screen Blending Mode in that it makes the darker parts of the image darker (by multiplying the dark areas of the Background Layer and Top layer) and the lighter parts of the image lighter (by screening the light areas of the Background Layer and Top Layer) whilst preserving those parts at 50% grey.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Overlay
Blending
Mode
=
Its main use is usual when used together with the High-Pass sharpening filter although it does produce a nice 'glow' effect in a sunset or sunrise.
Soft Light
The Soft Light Blending Mode mixes the colours of the Background Layer and the Top Layer together and then makes them slightly lighter or darker dependent on the tone of the Top Layer: Colours more than 50% grey on the Top Layer are slightly lightened and colours less than 50% grey on the Top Layer are slightly darkened.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Soft
Light
Blending
Mode
=
The Soft Light Blending Mode works better with a graduated grey Top Layer so that it then acts as a controlled, gradual 'dodge & burn' tool.
Hard Light
The Hard Light Blending Mode is a more severe version of the Soft Light Blending Mode. Not only are the colours made lighter/darker but the contrast is increased in both cases.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Hard
Light
Blending
Mode
=
The Hard Light Blending Mode acts in the same way as the Soft Light Blending Mode - only more so !
Vivid Light
The Vivid Light Blending Mode mixes the colours of the Background Layer and the Top Layer together and then burns or dodges them with contrast changes dependent on the tone of the Top Layer: Colours more than 50% grey on the Top Layer are dodged and colours less than 50% grey on the Top Layer are burned.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Vivid
Light
Blending
Mode
=
The Vivid Light Blending Mode is an extreme version of the Soft and Hard Light Blending Modes and so, in theory, could be used the same way. In reality,though, it is just too strong for any kind of basic landscape photographic image editing.
Linear Light
The Linear Light Blending Mode is the same as the Vivid Light Blending Mode except it burns and dodges by adjusting brightness rather than contrast.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Linear
Light
Blending
Mode
=
The Linear Light Blending Mode is another extreme version of the Soft and Hard Light Blending Modes and so it is just too strong for any kind of basic landscape photographic image editing.
Pin Light
The Pin Light Blending Mode uses a more complicated method of calculating its adjustments:
If the Top Layer is lighter than 50% grey the Top Layers colour replaces the Background Layer colour when the Background Layer Colour is darker than the Top Layer colour.
If the Top Layer is darker than 50% grey the Top Layers colour replaces the Background Layer colour when the Background Layer colour is lighter than the Top Layer colour.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Pin
Light
Blending
Mode
=
In most cases the Pin Light Blending Mode gives an unusual result and so it is not often used for landscape photographic image editing.
Hard Mix
The Hard Mix Blending Mode adds the value of each RGB channels from the Background Layer and adds it to the value of the RGB channel from the Top Layer. For each channel, it the result is greater than 255 then it is assigned exactly 255 but if the result is less than 255 it assigns a value of zero. This effectively converts each pixel to primary colours red, green, blue, cyan, yellow, magenta, black or white.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Hard
Mix
Blending
Mode
=
This blending mode is totally unsuitable for landscape photographic image editing.
The next 2 Blending Modes are COMPARITIVE in nature, i.e. they compare both layers looking for areas that are the same in both.
Difference
The Difference Blending Mode look at the value of each RGB channel and subtracts the Background Layer value from the Top Layer value (or vice-versa depending on which gives the greatest value).
As an image editing blending mode it is useless to a photographer:
Background layer
+
Top layer
Difference
Blending
Mode
=
The main use of the Difference Blending Mode is for aligning images prior to HDR conversion or during manual stitching together of images to create a panorama, for example. To show the effect, I have replaced the usual Top Layer with an exact copy of the Background Layer - but offset a little to the lower-left.
Now you can clearly see the mismatch between the two layers and so it will be easy to align them together.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Difference
Blending
Mode
=
The Difference Blending Mode is only useful as a tool - usually for aligning two layers together.
Exclusion
The Exclusion Blending Mode is similar to the Difference Blending Mode but lower in contrast.
Again, as an image editing blending mode it is useless to a photographer:
Background layer
+
Top layer
Exclusion
Blending
Mode
=
The main use of the Exclusion Blending Mode is as an alternative to the Difference Blending Mode - for aligning images prior to HDR conversion or during manual stitching together of images to create a panorama, for example. To show the effect, again I have replaced the usual Top Layer with an exact copy of the Background Layer - but offset a little to the lower-left.
Now you can clearly see the mismatch between the two layers and so it will be easy to align them together.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Exclusion
Blending
Mode
=
The Exclusion Blending Mode is also usually used as an alternative tool for aligning images.
The next 4 Blending Modes affect COLOUR and LUMINOSITY.
Hue
The Hue Blending Mode combines the hue and saturation of the Background Layer with the hue of the Top Layer.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Hue
Blending
Mode
=
The Hue Blending Mode is mainly used for changing individual hues within an image as opposed to basic image editing.
Saturation
The Saturation Blending Mode combines the luminance and hue of the Background Layer with the saturation of the Top Layer.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Saturation
Blending
Mode
=
The Saturation Blending Mode is mainly used for special effects as opposed to basic image editing.
Colour
The Colour Blending Mode combines the luminance of the Background Layer with the hue and saturation of the Top Layer.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Colour
Blending
Mode
=
In our example image it has no real impact but to show you what this Blending Mode can really do we have to try something a bit different.
Take the Background Layer and duplicate it - then choose the Colour Blending Mode.
Change the Foreground colour to blue and use a brush to paint over the sky on the copy layer. With the Normal Blending Mode the brush would just paint a solid colour over the sky obliterating the clouds. With the Colour Blending Mode the cloud details are retained. The below example is only roughly done but quickly shows how effective this Blending Mode can be.
Background layer
+
Copy Background Layer
Colour
Blending
Mode
+
Blue
Brush
=
The Colour Blending Mode is mainly used for giving changing colours within an image since you can paint over an object with a new colour but the tonal ranges are retained. Very useful for adding a 'colour-popped' detail to a monochrome image.
Luminosity
The Luminosity Blending Mode combines the saturation and hue of the Background Layer with the luminance of the Top Layer.
Background layer
+
Top layer
Luminosity
Blending
Mode
=
The Luminosity Blending Mode is mainly used for removing coloured halos created by sharpening.
Phew.......
And Now.......
In Summary......
Now that we have waded through all 25 of the Blending Modes we can identify the few that are of any use to a landscape photographer doing some basic image editing. In reverse order of usefulness:
In fifth place:
The Colour Blending Mode - useful for painting in a new colour but retaining the tonal ranges of the object being painted.
In fourth place:
The Soft Light Blending Mode - used with a graduated grey layer this can give a gradual, controlled dodge & burn effect.
In third place:
The Overlay Blending Mode - Increases contrast so useful when using the high-pass sharpening tool but also to boost an otherwise 'flat' image. Creates a nice glow effect with a sunrise and sunset too.
In second place:
The Screen Blending Mode - Lightens underexposed images quickly and simply.
And the winner is:
The Multiply Blending Mode - This has to be the winner since it is invaluable for restoring overexposed areas of an image - particularly useful when a bright sky is washed out over a dark foreground. Simple and effective.
In the final image I have taken our original Background Layer, copied it, changed the Blending Mode to Multiply and then used a Layer Mask to remove the effect from the land mass. After a slight exposure tweak and a bit of sharpening the image is drastically improved. Time taken? Less than 5 minutes. Result !!
Roll mouse over image to see the original version
In the next tutorial we will look at dodging and burning - but in a clever, controllable way.
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© John Hallett 2008-2010
