Blendingmodussen

Blendingmodussen are a set of image compositing operations used when two raster layers are combined. Each mode defines a mathematical relationship between the colors of the base layer and the blend layer to produce the output color. Most modes operate per color channel (red, green, blue) and may involve the alpha channel to handle transparency. They are a standard feature in raster graphics editors such as Photoshop, GIMP, Krita, and Affinity, and are accessed through layer blending options.

Common modes include Normal, Multiply, Screen, Overlay, Darken, Lighten, Color Burn, Color Dodge, Soft Light, Hard Light, Difference, and Exclusion. Color-based modes such as Hue, Saturation, Color, and Luminosity modify chromatic properties, sometimes preserving luminance. Each mode has a characteristic effect: Multiply tends to darken by multiplying channels; Screen lightens; Overlay combines both depending on base brightness; Darken and Lighten select the darker or lighter channel values.

Blending modes are widely used for photographic retouching, texture overlays, lighting effects, and color grading. They are often applied in a non-destructive manner via adjustment layers or masks, allowing later modification or removal of the effect.

Implementation notes include that results can vary with color space and gamma, and that some modes are more suitable for certain workflows (for example linear versus sRGB). Mastery of several modes helps in achieving precise composites and stylistic outcomes.