INTRODUCTION – To use layer blend modes you have to have two or more layers. The blend mode will react with the layer below it.  Here we will open a flower, create a duplicate layer, flip the new layer and invert its colors.  All blend modes will be tried.

OPEN PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS AND LOAD A PICTURE - Open Photoshop Elements in the Edit mode.  Hold the Ctrl key and tap the letter O key (Open) > navigate to a pictures folder and click a picture of a flower… > click Open.

DUPLICATE LAYER AND MODIFY  – Hold the Ctrl key and tap the J key (create a duplicate layer named Layer 1) > select Image + Rotate + Flip Layer Vertical (flips only the duplicate layer) > hold the Ctrl key and tap the I key (inverts the color of the layer).

SET THE BLENDING MODE – With Layer 1 still selected, click the “Set the blending mode for the layer” drop down menu (located below the word Layers) > select Dissolve (makes the lower layer take on the colors of the top layer) > place the mouse pointer on the word Opacity: (pointer becomes a hand with double horizontal arrows) > click and drag to left (or right) to change the opacity of Layer1.  Check before and after by holding the Alt key and toggling the visibility eye of the Background layer.

REPEAT FOR ALL BLENDING MODES – DARKEN (chooses the darker of the pixels between upper and lower layers).  MULTIPLY (darkens the lower layer wherever the upper layer is darker).  COLOR BURN (burns in the color of the upper layer with that of the lower layer).  LINEAR BURN (much like Multiply except darker).  LIGHTEN (chooses the lighter of the pixels between upper and lower layers).  SCREEN (lightens the lower layer wherever lighter pixels appear on the upper layer).  COLOR DODGE (dodges the lower layer with the upper layer wherever it is lighter).  LINEAR DODGE (much like Screen but more intense).  OVERLAY (multiplies the light colors and screens the dark colors).  SOFT LIGHT (multiplies the dark tones and screens the light tones).  HARD LIGHT (multiplies the dark colors and screens the light colors).  VIVID LIGHT (darkens or lightens the contrast of the lower layer depending on variations of the upper layer pixels from neutral gray).  LINEAR LIGHT (darkens or lightens the brightness of the lower layer depending on variations of the upper layer pixels from neutral gray).  PIN LIGHT (the lower layer pixels are lightened if the upper layer pixels are lighter than neutral gray and darkened if they are darker).  DIFFERENCE (large layer differences lighten the color, and small differences darken the color of the lower layer).  EXCLUSION (the darkness of the lower layer masks the difference between layers).  HUE (this changes the hue of the lower layer to match the upper layer).  SATURATION (changes the saturation of the lower layer to the hue of the upper).  COLOR (changes hue and saturation of the lower layer to match the upper).  LUMINOSITY (changes the luminosity of the lower layer to match the upper).

CONCLUSION  - Layer blending can be used between any 2 layers including identical layers.  Screen is most useful to fix pictures that are too dark.  Most of the blends are best used by trial and error to produce the desired results.  Repeat this lesson with 2 identical layers.  Refer to NT325 Photoshop Elements – Orton Effect for a specific application.