Compositing modes
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Compositing modes

Layers can be composited in various ways, each yielding a different effect. This section describes the available compositing modes. Each description is accompanied by an example: on top of an original image (see below), a rainbow gradient is added.


The original image

The original image


Normal

The Normal mode does nothing special. It adds the layer to the image, and if no other special effects like opacity are changed, the underlying layers will only be visible at places where the new layer is itself transparent.


The gradient applied with the Normal compositing
mode

The gradient applied with the Normal compositing mode


Multiply

The Multiply mode blends the two layers so that the bottom layer gets “colorized” by the new layer. The resulting image is generally quite dark.


The gradient applied with the Multiply compositing
mode

The gradient applied with the Multiply compositing mode


Burn, Dodge, Divide and Screen

The Burn, Dodge, Divide and Screen modes all add an extra “burning” effect by following contours instead of using straight lines. In addition, Burn and Divide use the inverted colors instead of the actual colors of the composited layer.


The gradient applied with the Burn compositing
mode

The gradient applied with the Burn compositing mode



The gradient applied with the Dodge compositing
mode

The gradient applied with the Dodge compositing mode



The gradient applied with the Divide compositing
mode

The gradient applied with the Divide compositing mode



The gradient applied with the Screen compositing
mode

The gradient applied with the Screen compositing mode


Overlay

Like Multiply, the Overlay mode colorizes the underlying layer. The resulting image is about as light as the original layer.


The gradient applied with the Overlay compositing
mode

The gradient applied with the Overlay compositing mode


Darken

The Darken mode darkens the underlying layer while colorizing it to match the colors in the composited layer.


The gradient applied with the Darken compositing
mode

The gradient applied with the Darken compositing mode


Lighten

The Lighten mode lightens the underlying layer while colorizing it to match the colors in the composited layer.


The gradient applied with the Lighten compositing
mode

The gradient applied with the Lighten compositing mode


Hue, Saturation and Value

The Hue, Saturation and Value modes respectively apply the hue, saturation and value components of the composited layer to the underlying layer.


The gradient applied with the Hue compositing
mode

The gradient applied with the Hue compositing mode



The gradient applied with the Saturation compositing
mode

The gradient applied with the Saturation compositing mode



The gradient applied with the Value compositing
mode

The gradient applied with the Value compositing mode


Color

The Color mode colorizes the underlying layer, yielding very strong colors.


The gradient applied with the Color compositing
mode

The gradient applied with the Color compositing mode


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