A Blending Mode takes the pixels of one layer and blend the pixels of another layer. Blending modes are an essential feature in Adobe Photoshop that allows you to blend layers and adjust their transparency, brightness, and color.

blending modes in Photoshop

What are blending modes in Photoshop? 

Meaning 

Each blending mode uses a mathematical formula to determine how the colors in the top layer blend with the colors in the layer below. (blending modes in illustrator) 

Blending modes are useful for applying overlays and textures.

The blending modes doesn't change any pixels of a layer, it shows only visual output. 

It works like a mathematical equation. It simply takes an input and then apply equations. Each blending modes have different equation. It blends the layers based on their hue, saturation, luminosity or combination of these components. (blending modes in Photoshop explained) 

How many blending modes in Photoshop? 

There are 31 blending Modes in Adobe Photoshop.

27 Layer Blending Modes 

4 extra blending modes which are Behind, Clear, Pass Through & Add

 (how many blending modes in photoshop) 

blending modes in Photoshop

Explanation of Each Blending Modes

Normal Blending Modes 

1) Normal 

Normal blending mode is the default blending mode in photoshop. It has no effect on the layer.  (blending modes in Photoshop explained) 

2) Dissolve 

Dissolve blending mode is like a Normal blending mode. It also has no changes but after decreasing the  opacity then you will find that it becomes transparent in the forms of dots.  (how many blending modes in photoshop) 

Darkene Blending Modes 

3) Darken

The Darken blend mode hides any pixels which are brighter than the Projected surface.  (blending modes in Photoshop explained) 

4) Multiply

As per the name The Multiply Blending mode multiplies the luminosity of the base color by the blend color. It doesn't do effect on white color while the black pixels remain. (how many blending modes in photoshop) 

Multiply blending mode is so useful for creating shadows and darkening images. (blending modes in illustrator) 

Eg. 0×0=0, 1×549=549 etc. 

Keyboard shortcut : Alt + Shift + M

Neutral color : White

5) Color Burn

The color burn blending mode has darker effect than Multiply. It has a salient feature that is it has no effect on 100% Black and white as well. (blending modes in illustrator) 

Color burn is the first of the 8 Special Blending Modes which reacts differently with Opacity and Fill. 

Keyboard Shortcut : Alt + Shift + B

Neutral Color : white

6) Linear Burn

Linear Burn is similar as color burn but it has a difference that is, the linear burn doesn't keep 100% white as white. 

Linear Burn is the second of 8 special blending modes which reacts differently with the opacity and fill. 

Keyboard Shortcut : Alt + Shift + A

Neutral Color : None

7) Darker Color

Darker color is the blend mode which you never use. It is just a extreme version of Darken blending mode. It only compares the base and blend colors and keeps the darkest of the two. (how many blending modes in photoshop) 

Keyboard Shortcut : None

Neutral color : White

Lighten Blending Modes 

8) Lighten

The Lighten Blend mode is the exact opposite of Darken blend mode. 

The light blend mode will hide the pixels which are darkest than the projected surface. (blending modes in illustrator) 

It just copmares the base color and blend color and keeps the lightest one. 

Keyboard Shortcut : Alt + Shift + G

Neutral Color : None

9) Screen 

The Screen blend mode is exactly opposite as Multiply blend mode. 

It shows everything which is 100% white and it hides everything which is 100% black and it brightens.  (how many blending modes in photoshop) 

Keyboard Shortcut : Alt + Shift + S 

Neutral color: Black

10) Color Dodge

Color dodge is exactly opposite of color burn blend mode. 

Color dodge will keep all 100% black on the projected surface as black. 

Color Dodge is the third of the 8 Special Blending Modes, which blends differently when Fill is adjusted than when Opacity is adjusted. (blending modes in illustrator) 

Keyboard Shortcut: Alt Shift D

Neutral Colors: Black

11) Linear Dodge

The linear burn is also exactly opposite as compare to Linear burn. 

It must be remembered that the linear dodge will not keep 100% black as black. 

Keyboard Shortcut: Alt Shift W 

Neutral Color: None

12) Lighter color

Lighter color is the exact opposite of darker color blending mode. 

Lighter color is the extreme version of Lighten. It doesn't change pixels. It just compares the base color and the blend color and keeps the lightest of the two.  (how many blending modes in photoshop) 

Keyboard Shortcut: Alt Shift 

Neutral Colors: Black

Contrast Blending Modes 

Blending Modes in Photoshop 

13) Overlay 

The overlay blending mode is one the useful blending mode that we use again and again. 

It just keep the 50% gray as same ( no change). Anything which will darker than 50% gray will became darker and anything which wil brighter than 50% gray will became brighter. 

It uses Screen at half strength on colors brighter than 50% gray. And the Multiply at half strength on colors darker than 50% gray. (how many blending modes in photoshop) 

In other words, we can say that overlay blend mode increases the contrast

Keyboard Shortcut: Alt Shift O 

Neutral Colors: 50% Gray

14) Soft Light

Soft light is similar like a overlay but the soft light works in a soft way. (blending modes in illustrator) 

Soft light is the softer version of overlay without harsh contrast

Keyboard Shortcut: Alt Shift O 
Neutral Colors: 50% Gray

15) Hard Light

Hard light can be called as the Faded Overlay. It is the version of overlay with the faded contrast. 

Hard Light combines the Multiply and Screen using the brightness values of the Blend layer to make its calculations. (blending modes in illustrator) 

Keyboard Shortcut: Alt Shift H 

Neutral Colors: 50% Gray

16) Vivid Light 

The vivid light is extreme version of overlay and soft light. 

It keeps 100% white as white and 100% black as black. And 50% gray has no effect. 

Vivid Light is the fifth of the Eight Special Blending Modes, which blends differently when Fill is adjusted compared to Opacity. (blending modes in illustrator) 

The result of Vivid light is extreme, you just need to reduce Opicity or Fill for best result. 

Keyboard Shortcut: Alt Shift V
Neutral Colors: 50% Gray

17) Linear Light

Linear Light is like a vivid light but there is one difference between them that is the linear light doesn't keep 100% black as black and 100% white as white. 

The result of linear light is strong, and you will just have to either reduce the Opacity or Fill. 

Linear Light is the sixth of the Eight Special Blending Modes, which reacts differently when Fill is adjusted compared to Opacity. (blending modes in illustrator) 

Keyboard Shortcut: Alt Shift J 
Neutral Colors: 50% Gray

18) Pin Light

Pin Light is the interesting combination of Darken and lighten blending mode.  (how to use blending modes in photoshop) 

It can result in patches or blotches and completely removes all mid-tones.

Keyboard Shortcut: Alt Shift Z 

Neutral Colors: 50% Gray

19) Hard Mix

Hard Mix is one of the interesting blending mode. 

By applying Hard Mix blend mode the layer will lose a lot of details. And it will became a combination of eight colors. (how to use blending modes in photoshop) 

These eight colors is  Black & White, Red, Green, Blue, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow. (B&W, RGB, CMY)

Hard Mix is the seventh of the Eight Special Blending Modes, which reacts differently when Fill is adjusted compared to Opacity.

Keyboard Shortcut: Alt Shift L 

Neutral Colors: None

Inversion Blending Modes

20) Difference

Difference blending mode is simply the difference between two different colors. 

If the two colors are similar then the result will black. because the difference between them is zero.

Difference is the Eight of the Special Blending Modes, which reacts differently when Fill is adjusted compared to Opacity. (how to use blending modes in photoshop) 

Keyboard Shortcut: Alt Shift E 

Neutral Colors: Black

21) Exclusion

Exclusion blend mode is similar to difference. blending with white inverts the base colors while blending with black has no changes. (blending modes in illustrator) 

Exclusion blend mode doesn't interact with mid tones.

Keyboard Shortcut: Alt Shift X 

Neutral Colors: Black

22) Subtract

The Subtract Blend mode subtracts the pixel values from the base layer.

This blend will just Darkened the image by subtracting brightness. 

Subtract blend mode gives the result which exactly opposite of Devide Blend Mode. (blending modes in Photoshop explained) 

Keyboard Shortcut: None

Neutral Colors: Black

23) Devide

The devide blend mode simply devides the colors.

Blending with the same color results in white because any number divided by itself is 1, or 100%.

0% (black) gives the result black because deciding by zero is undefined. there will no changes.

Devide blend mode gives the result which exactly opposite of Subtract Blend Mode. (how to use blending modes in photoshop) 

Keyboard Shortcut: None

Neutral Colors: White

Component Blending Modes

24) Hue

Hue is the root color. Hue determines what is the root color. Hue will not apply a change if the base layer is a neutral gray. (blending modes in Photoshop explained) 

Keyboard Shortcut: Alt Shift U 

Neutral Colors: None

25) Saturation 

Saturation is simply how much the color is. 

Saturation will not apply a change if the base layer is a neutral gray. (blending modes in illustrator) 

The black & white images has no changes because there is no colors

Keyboard Shortcut: Alt Shift T 

Neutral Colors: None

26) Color

The Color Blending Mode applies both the hue and saturation of the blend colors to the luminosity of the base colors.  (how to use blending modes in photoshop) 

Keyboard Shortcut: Alt Shift C 

Neutral Colors: None

27) Luminosity

Luminosity is the command which says that don't interact with the colors, only interact with the brightness. (how to use blending modes in photoshop) 

Keyboard Shortcut: Alt Shift Y 

Neutral Colors: None

LIST OF EIGHT SPECIAL BLENDING MODES 

Special Blending Modes are those Blending modes which reacts differently with Opacity and Fill. (blending modes in Photoshop explained) 

1) Color Burn

2) Linear Burn

3) Color Dodge

4) Linear Dodge

5) Vivid Light

6) Linear Light

7) Hard Mix

8) Difference