Adobe Photoshop CC

Layer Tools
1. Layer Tools Introduction

2. App #1: Opacity & Fill

3. App #2: Blend Modes

4. APP #3: Layer Styles

Layer Tools Introduction
Types of Layers

Layers are Multitalented:

Each layer in Photoshop has endless possibilities for

how it can interact with the layers below it.
Types of Layers

Like a cell phone:

Phones, at their root are a device to make calls.

However, applications (apps) can make them do so much
more.

Layers, at their root are simple too, but they can

do so much more with their “apps” installed.
App #1: Opacity & Fill
App #1: Opacity & Fill

App #1: Opacity & Fill

These “Apps” are the most common control of any layer.

Opacity: The overall calculation for the opaqueness of an entire

layer. Affects the Layer and all styles applied.

Fill: The calculation for the content of a layer.

Affects only the content of the layer and not the styles.
App #2: Blend Modes
App #2: Blend Modes

App #2: Blend Modes

These “Apps” control various calculations for the selected layer

and how it will interact with the layer stack.

Consult with the Helpx.Adobe.com for detailed information.

These are Darkening Blend Modes and will use the data in the
selected layer to make the underlying layers darker.

Darken: If the selected layer is darker than the underlying layer the data is
replaced with the dark information.

Multiply: Multiplies the selected layer, by the underlying layers. Black stays,
White goes away.

Color Burn: Uses the color data in the selected layer to burn the underlying
layers leaving a color cast and increased contrast.

Linear Burn: Similar to Color Burn, but with decreased brightness.

Darker Color: Compares all channels and shows the darker value through.
These are Lightening Blend Modes and will use the data in the
selected layer to make the underlying layers lighter.

Lighten: If the selected layer is lighter than the underlying layer the data is
replaced with the lighter information.

Screen: Multiplies the inverse of the selected layer, by the inverse of the
underlying layers. White stays, Black goes away.

Color Dodge: Uses the color data in the selected layer to dodge the underlying
layers leaving a color cast and decreased contrast.

Linear Dodge: Similar to Color Dodge, but with increased brightness.

Lighter Color: Compares all channels and shows the lighter value through.
These are Contrast Blend Modes work by lightening light
pixels and darkening dark pixels. Mid-tones are dropped.

Overlay: A combination of Screen (lighter pixels) and Multiply (darker pixels).

Creates lighter lights, darker darks

Soft Light: Lightens light pixels, darkens dark pixels. Nothing gets pure black
or pure white. Mid-tones get dropped. Similar to Overlay, but not as heavy
handed.

Hard Light: A combination of Linear Dodge and Linear Burn. It results in a

more contrast rich version of Overlay and is heavily weighted on the selected layer.

Vivid Light: A combination of Color Burn and Color Dodge. Increases and
decreases the contrast based on the selected layer.
Contrast Blend Modes continued.

Linear Light: Uses Linear Dodge and Burn, like Hard Light, but emphasis is
placed on the underlying layers data. Pixels less than 50% gray are lightened with
increased brightness. Pixels more than 50% gray are darkened with decreased
brightness.

Pin Light: Removes all mid-tones and places an emphasis on the Lighten and
Darken blend modes based on the selected layer. It is unpredictable.

Hard Mix: Uses Linear Light blend mode to calculate color channels. The result
is a harsh 8 colors R,G,B,C,M, Y,K. It can be very useful for many applications if
used in conjunction with the Fill Adjustment.
The “Other” Blend Modes

Difference: Looks at the color information in all channels and subtracts either
the selected layer from the underlying or vise versa depending on which has a
greater brightness value.

Exclusion: Similar to difference in effect but with a reduced contrast effect.

Subtract: Looks at all Channel data and subtracts the selected layer from the
underlying layers.

Divide: Looks at Channel data and divides the selected layer from the underlying
layers.
The Color Blend Modes focuses on specific relationships
between tone and color preservation.

Hue: Applies the Hue of the selected layer while preserving the Luminance and
Saturation of the underlying layers.

Saturation: Applies the Saturation value of the selected layer while preserving
the Luminance and Hue of the underlying layers.

Color: Applies the selected layer’s Hue and Saturation while preserving the
Luminance of the underlying layers.

Luminosity: Applies the selected layer’s Luminance while preserving the Hue
and Saturation of the underlying layers.
The Fill Blend Modes

These Blend Modes will make very different “calculations”

when used alongside the Fill Slider.

Think of Fill as the calculator and Opacity as the intensity of

the calculation.
App #3: Layer Styles
App #3: Layer Styles

App #3: Layer Styles

These “Apps” control many of the qualities of a selected layer.

They can be reached by double clicking next to the text of any
layer.
App #3: Layer Styles

In this lesson we will focus primarily on “Blend If”