Photoshop® CS3 Channels and Masks Bible

Chapter 21. Blending Layers

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Compositing color

• Blending layers

• Blending with tools and commands

• Using Advanced Blending

• Replacing backgrounds

Blending can extend Photoshop's capability to create amazing color relationships. By blending layer content you can heighten saturation, apply special lighting effects, darken, lighten, and improve overall image quality.

Applying a blending mode to a layer is similar to superimposing two transparencies on a light table. The colors mix with each other and the intensity and color of the light that shines through them also affects the color. Suppose that you could control the relationship of the two images by illumi-nating them with special gels. Blending modes work in a similar way; the two layers are the transparencies and the gel is the blending mode.

Blending layer content is a smart way to alter the color relationships of an image. Layers can be blended together using a variety of blending modes that control the brightness, hue, and intensity of the image's colors. Painting and editing tools can also be programmed to blend color as can some of the other features that apply color or composite images. In this chapter, I explain what blending modes are and how they can help you create superb color in your image.

Compositing Color

In Photoshop color can be composited through a variety of tools and meth-ods each having a specific purpose, but in general, all accomplishing similar results — to ultimately combine the values on the color channels. ...