Blend modes are filters that change the appearance of the text added to your images with the Add Text tool. The following table lists the blend modes available in the Text tool, and gives a brief explanation of their effects.
Blend Modes
Normal |
Applies the text to the underlying image with the specified color. Only opacity affects this blend. |
Screen |
Combines the text color with the inverse of the underlying photo color, resulting in a color that is the same or lighter. |
Multiply |
Combines the text color with the underlying photo to produce a darker color. Multiplying any color with black produces black; multiplying any color with white leaves the color unchanged. |
Dodge |
Combines the text color with the underlying pixels in the photo to produce a lighter color. |
Burn |
Combines the text color with the underlying pixels in the photo to produce a darker color. |
Overlay |
Preserves the shadows and highlights of the lower layers while applying either Multiply or Screen blend mode based on the underlying image area's color values. |
Difference |
Subtracts the text color from the color of the underlying photo. Any white in the text produces a true negative of the color in the image, while black produces no effect. |
Darken |
Applies pixels in the text that are darker than the underlying image. Pixels in the text that are lighter than the underlying image disappear (based on RGB values). |
Lighten |
Applies pixels in the text that are lighter than the underlying image. Pixels in the text that are darker than the underlying image disappear (based on RGB values). |
Hard Light |
Adds strong highlights or shadows by applying Multiply or Screen based on the underlying image area's color values. |
Soft Light |
Adds soft highlights or shadows by darkening or lightening based on the underlying image area's color values. |
Hue |
Applies the hue value of colors in the text to the color of the underlying image areas. |
Saturation |
Applies the saturation value of colors in the text to the color of the underlying image areas. |
Color |
Applies the hue and saturation of the text to the image. This blend does not affect the luminance of the underlying image. |
Luminosity |
Applies the lightness value of colors in the text to the color of the underlying image areas. |
Dissolve |
Randomly replaces the pixels with the image (base) or text (blend) color, depending on the opacity at any pixel location. |
Exclusion |
Like Difference, but with less contrast, Exclusion subtracts the text (blend) color from the color of the underlying photo. Any white in the text produces a true negative of the color in the image, while black produces no effect. |
Vivid Light |
Combines the text (blend) color with the underlying pixels in the photo by increasing or decreasing contrast to produce a lighter or darker color, as determined by the blend color. |
Pin Light |
When the light source is lighter than 50% gray, the pixels darker than the light source are replaced. Pixels lighter than the light source remain the same. When the light source is darker than 50% gray, the pixels lighter than the light source are replaced. Pixels darker than the light source remain the same. |
Linear Light |
Dodges or burns by lightening or darkening the brightness value, depending on the text (blend) color. |
Hard Mix |
Applies red, green, and blue channel values of the text (blend) color to the RGB values of the image. |
Subtract |
Subtracts the text color from the image (base) color in each channel. |
Divide |
Divides the text color from the image (base) color. |
Darker Color |
From the text color and the image (base) color, the lower channel values are chosen. |
Lighter Color |
From the text color and the image (base) color, the higher channel values are chosen. |
You can use the Edit Brush to paint an effect onto specific areas of your image, and then set the blend mode and opacity slider to change the way the effect is applied.