There are 27 different blending modes in Adobe Photoshop, each with its own effect on the pixels in an image. In general, blending modes change the color and tone of the pixels in an image based on the colors of the pixels around them.
The specific effect of each blending mode depends on the colors of the pixels being blended.
The most commonly used blending modes are Normal, Dissolve, Darken, Multiply, Lighten, Screen, Overlay, Soft Light, Hard Light, Color Dodge, and Color Burn. Each of these has a different effect on an image, and can be used to create a variety of looks.
Normal is the default blending mode and has no effect on the pixels in an image. Dissolve randomly replaces pixels with transparency. Darken compares the color values of each pixel and replaces the pixel with the darker color. Multiply darkens an image by multiplying the color values of each pixel. Lighten compares the color values of each pixel and replaces the pixel with the lighter color. Screen brightens an image by multiplying the inverse of each pixel’s color values.
Overlay combines Multiply and Screen to create an effect that is somewhere between those two modes. Soft Light darkens or lightens an image depending on the color values of each pixel. Hard Light is similar to Soft Light but has a more pronounced effect. Color Dodge brightens an image by increasing the brightness of each pixel. Color Burn darkens an image by decreasing the brightness of each pixel.
These are just a few of the many blending modes available in Photoshop. Each has a different effect that can be used to create a variety of looks. Experiment with all of the different modes to see what kinds of effects you can create.
Conclusion: Blending modes are a great way to change the look of an image without having to make major changes to it. They can be used to create a variety of looks, from subtle changes to major overhauls.
