blendmodus

Blendmodus, the German term for blending mode, is a parameter in layers-based image editing that determines how pixels on one layer combine with pixels beneath it to produce the final color and brightness.

When a blending mode is applied to a top layer, each pixel is processed with the corresponding pixel from lower layers according to a mathematical rule defined by the mode. The visible result also depends on the layer's opacity, and many programs offer a fill control that can influence the effect for certain modes.

Common blending modes include Normal (no change), Multiply (darkens by multiplying color values), Screen (lightens by inverting and multiplying), Overlay (combines Multiply and Screen to preserve contrast), Color, Hue, Saturation, and Luminosity modes, as well as Darken and Lighten, Difference, and Color Dodge/Burn. Each mode yields a different interaction with underlying colors and brightness.

Blending modes are implemented in most image editors, photo apps, and digital art tools, such as Photoshop, GIMP, Krita, and Affinity programs. Names and exact results can vary between software packages because the underlying algorithms are not standardized. Users typically experiment to achieve composites, color corrections, textures, or stylized effects.