This lesson dives into Blend Modes — the engine behind serious color and light work in Photoshop.
2026 note: This lesson was recorded on Photoshop CS6 in 2014. Adobe no longer sells the CS line — Photoshop now ships via Creative Cloud subscription. About 95% of the menus and shortcuts shown in the video still match the modern version; only the iconography is a bit fresher.
Most-Used Modes
- Multiply — keeps the dark, drops white. Perfect for shadows and added textures.
- Screen — keeps the light, drops black. For lights, fire, flares.
- Overlay — light gets lighter, dark gets darker. Contrast booster.
- Soft Light — gentler Overlay; classic skin retouch.
- Color — applies only the hue; lets the underlying brightness through. Hair/skin color jobs.
- Luminosity — only brightness. Pair it with Curves to avoid color shifts.
Practical Tips
- Hover over a mode name in the dropdown for a live preview.
- Cycle modes with
Shift + +andShift + -. - If a result feels off, swap the two layers’ order — same blend mode, very different result.
