Photoshop blend mode science with math formulas: darken group (darken, multiply, color burn, linear burn), lighten group (lighten, screen, color dodge, linear dodge), contrast group (overlay, soft light, hard light, vivid light), component group (hue, saturation, color, luminosity). Quick reference for removing black/white backgrounds, adding glow/shadow, texture overlay, color tinting, high-pass sharpen.
Photoshop blend mode science with math formulas: darken group (darken, multiply, color burn, linear burn), lighten group (lighten, screen, color dodge, linear dodge), contrast group (overlay, soft light, hard light, vivid light), component group (hue, saturation, color, luminosity). Quick reference for removing black/white backgrounds, adding glow/shadow, texture overlay, color tinting, high-pass sharpen.
Every blend mode is a math formula combining the current layer (top) with layers below (bottom).
DARKEN GROUP — Result is always darker or same
Mode
Formula
Use For
DARKEN
min(top, bottom)
Composite dark elements, remove white backgrounds
MULTIPLY
top x bottom / 255
Shadows, dark overlays, multiply textures. Black stays black, white disappears
COLOR_BURN
1 - (1-bottom)/top
Intense dark contrast, dramatic shadows
LINEAR_BURN
top + bottom - 255
Darker than Multiply, harsh dark blending
LIGHTEN GROUP — Result is always lighter or same
Mode
Formula
Use For
LIGHTEN
max(top, bottom)
Composite light elements, remove black backgrounds
SCREEN
1 - (1-top)(1-bottom)
Glow effects, light leaks, neon text. White stays white, black disappears
COLOR_DODGE
bottom / (1-top)
Intense highlights, glowing edges
LINEAR_DODGE
top + bottom
Brightest additive blend, lens flares
CONTRAST GROUP — Darken darks, lighten lights
Mode
Formula
Use For
OVERLAY
Multiply if bottom<128, Screen if >128
Most versatile. Texture overlay, high-pass sharpen, color grading
SOFT_LIGHT
Gentle Overlay
Subtle color tinting, gentle light/shadow. Best for color grading
HARD_LIGHT
Multiply if top<128, Screen if >128
Like Overlay but keyed to TOP layer
VIVID_LIGHT
Color Burn/Dodge combo
Use batchplay for this blend mode
COMPONENT GROUP — Blend specific color properties
Mode
Formula
Use For
HUE
Hue from top, Sat+Lum from bottom
Change colors without affecting light/shadow
SATURATION
Sat from top, Hue+Lum from bottom
Desaturate/saturate specific areas
COLOR
Hue+Sat from top, Lum from bottom
Colorize. Tinting photos, hand-coloring B&W
LUMINOSITY
Lum from top, Hue+Sat from bottom
Apply brightness changes without color shifts
QUICK REFERENCE
Remove black background → SCREEN
Remove white background → MULTIPLY
Add glow/light → SCREEN or LINEAR_DODGE
Add shadow/darkness → MULTIPLY
Texture overlay → OVERLAY or SOFT_LIGHT
Color tinting → SOFT_LIGHT or COLOR
High-pass sharpen → OVERLAY
Color grading → SOFT_LIGHT
