All About Blending Modes & How To Use Them In Digital Art

Free Cheatsheet 👉 www.genevievesdesignstudio.co...
What are blending modes and how do you use them in digital art? 🤔
I get some sort of variation of this question every single day and I've been trying to come up with a video to explain it all for months now. Seriously.
Blending modes can be super confusing at first but the key thing to remember is that you actually don't have to remember anything. I find blending modes to be much more of a "feel" thing than a theory thing - as long as you understand the main idea behind the 5 main blending mode categories, then you're good to go!
• Category 1: Darken (Multiply, Linear Burn, Color Burn, Darken, Darken Color)
• Category 2: Lighten (Screen, Add, Color Dodge, Lighten, Lighter Color)
• Category 3: Contrast (Overlay, Soft Light, Hard Light, Vivid Light, Linear Light, Pin Light, Hard Mix)
• Category 4: Inversion (Difference, Exclusion, Subtract, Divide)
• Category 5: Color (Hue, Color, Luminosity, Saturation)
Oh! And one cool thing: blending modes are very similar from one software to the other, which means you can follow along with Procreate, Photoshop, Ibis Paint, After Effects, and many other digital art/ design tools 😊
🤍 Help me create more free art education content (and get sketches, palettes & other goodies!): bit.ly/GDSPatreon 🤍
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:42 What's a blending mode?
02:02 Category 1: Darken
06:22 Category 2: Lighten
09:14 Category 3: Contrast
12:23 Category 4: Inversion
14:11 Category 5: Color
All About Blending Modes & How To Use Them In Digital Art
#tutorial #procreate #digitalart
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Can't wait to create with you!
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[@GenevievesDesignStudio]

Hello, wonderful people! There it is, the video I've been promising to make pretty much since starting the channel 😅 Free Cheat Sheet 👉 www.genevievesdesignstudio.com/freebies I really hope it can help make blending modes a bit less confusing and a whole lot more fun. The key thing to remember is that you actually don't have to remember anything. I find blending modes to be much more of a "feel" thing than a theory thing - as long as you understand the main idea behind the 5 main blending mode categories we'll talk about here, then you're good to go! 🤍

[@campyvansters]

Thank you! I’ve learned SO MUCH watching your wonderful videos! Love your art and teaching style. 🙏🏻💕

[@biancamartins6762]

I think the best way to explain how blending modes works is to show it in practice, in "action", because just seeing images with narrated explanations, at least for me, didn't work very well. I think a mix of the two modes would be more productive (I mean: an illustration being done with various types of blending + the explanation being narrated during the moment). 😉

[@TracyKMainwaring]

I think my favourite blending mode is overlay. It seems to be useful in different situations. I use multiply a lot too

[@Jewlelil]

Thank you! This is so helpful, I usually just play around with the blending modes to find what I like but this is so thorough!

[@debbieleevue]

You’re such a good teacher and very easy to follow and understand. I learned so much from your videos. Thank you so much.

[@toshikudo]

This was genuienly the best blending modes tutorial i have ever come across. Thank you so much!! i had been using these without ever figuring out how they work so, this helped a LOT.

[@samawhidden]

Thank you so much for taking the time to create this video!! This is a wonderful resource!

[@ailimeblueberry6793]

Thank you so much! I'm a total beginner and thanks to you I have just understood some options. You've got a beautiful name, suits you perfectly - magical.

[@lifemoreefficient4476]

yes🙌🏾i've been waiting for someone to do this!! You rock!!

[@kryki_cha6206]

No other video I've watched on this topic had actually explained ALL of the modes. Most just explain the ones they use most and like. So, THANK YOU!! So helpful!!!

[@HediSalm]

I'm fairly new to illustration and digital art, so your videos are all super helpful and I love everything you do! I don't have a favourite blending mode yet, but I love this little game :)

[@mvc139]

As usual your tutorials are the most educational ones and easy to understand, you’re a great teacher 👏🏼, my favorite blending mode was Multiply, but I am going to test them all after watching this and I may change my mind 😂

[@MaureenAstrid]

This is actually the first time anyone explained this in an understandable way 🥰 thanks for all the work you put into this. My favourite blending mode is multiply 😘

[@GenevievesDesignStudio]

I'm so glad you found the explanations clear, Maureen! 🥳 🤍 It was quite a challenge to summarize all of that info 😅

[@KarmasAbutch]

@@GenevievesDesignStudio This right here! ⬆️ Thank you so much.

[@robbycook4364]

Congratulations on creating a wonderful Procreate resource, Genevieve. Blending Modes and I have been poles apart but after listening to (and watching) your video, I'm feeling a lot happier because your explanations and demonstrations on the cute little Chameleon now make sense and I'm excited to try to use the Lighten modes for highlighting. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and the Cheat Sheet. Much appreciated.

[@LunichuDraws]

Hi Genevieve! I really love your videos! They are so inspiring and helpful. Thank you! My favorite blending mode is Add on procreate because it makes everything so bright and pretty!

[@GenevievesDesignStudio]

Thank you 🤍 I'm so glad you like the videos!

[@inthehoopwithleemrmrsg1425]

Thankyou, this video is extremely helpful, my favourite blending mode has always been multiply, but after watching this video, I am keen to try linear burn.

[@srividyasankararaman8975]

Such a great tutorial. Thank you for explaining it so clearly.

[@jmkeslin]

Genevieve, your English is great, and your vocabulary is broader than many people I know who are English 1st! I can tell you've improved since early videos. My favorite blending mode used to be multiply, but since watching your videos I really like the linear burn and add now. After years of using photoshop and more recently Procreate, you've given me a better understanding by far. Thanks!

[@bryantbonick3329]

I am a beginner in digital Art, and this Video is very helpful, thank you very much

[@parastephkar98]

Thank you SO much for this! I was so lost when it came to the blending modes! This helped me a ton! 😊

[@JollyJeepers]

omgosh thank you so much for making this video; I have been dying for an easy-to-understand explanation for all these blending modes!

[@sadelart]

Genevieve, thank you so much for your video! I have learned all the concepts and am looking forward to aply them all 😊 thank you for your simple yet rich explanations ❤❤❤

[@saffycatblues]

Brilliant, thank you so much, exactly what I needed to understand these modes. I can already see an improvement! Your channel continues to inspire me to keep working with Procreate, so much appreciated.

[@valeriaesparza1651]

Such an amazing way to explain what each blending mode does !! Tysm

[@MaoRatto]

Geneieve 5:14 As someone who uses this to shade often. This layer is BEST FOR COLORED SHADING SCENERIOS, By having a more pastelish color, it turns that more into a mid-high saturated shadow... It's if need heavier contrast than multiply or need saturated shadows. For colored lighting scenerios where your backgrounds are not white or grey toned ( bright or dark greys ) It packs a punch, but very unpredictable like you said. It's best to always alpha lock then paint over it to make sure you know what you're doing with it. The colors it works best with are 1. Anything except green. 7:08 Best for pastel or need more low to medium tones. Multiply is best for grey to lower-medium color scenerios. It depends on your palette as for Linear Light and Linear Burn, these are basically mirrors of eachother for colored light scenerios. Where you're working within a saturated side of a palette.

[@nicolettegomez4099]

Excited to play with multiply! Thanks for teaching me so much!

[@felicitasleygraf413]

Color Dodge and linear Burn are my favs so far... thanks for the cheat sheet. My gead is exploding now but I learned so much 💕 your Videos really help me improve my skills :)

[@carlathomas5807]

OMG!!!!! Cannot watch now, but looking forward to it. Thanks soooo much.

[@miriamrocke9430]

THANK YOU! I'm excited for all the blending modes really, don't have a favorite yet.

[@essch1520]

Just got an email about this tutorial and cant wait to watch it! Was waiting for this :) Thank you!

[@saavinisanganeria]

Hi I love your tutorials they are very helpful! You are so calm and kind. I will really appreciate if you could also teach us how to make the chameleon in this tutorial

[@giulialemos9807]

You are amazing!! I've finally understood the blending modes!! I want to try Linear burn and add.

[@bettysadoway24]

Colour burn - I didn't realize it was so good for shadows - I was always using multiply - thanks Genevieve!

[@joelmanscour6100]

Great tutorial Geneviève! thanks a lot👋

[@wolffang1060]

Love that you incorporated ibis paint!! ❤️❤️❤️ Thank you so much!! Awesome as always!

[@High_o_pie]

This is very helpful. Thank you. And my favorite is add.

[@sharingkonten1056]

My fav blend mode: overlay, multiply, color burn, and add

[@decalpals8496]

OMG! I was just wishing for something just like you did in this video. Thank you so much. Your explanation and cheat sheet are much appreciated.

[@robertthompson148]

Darken, I need good shadows! I will follow your instructions, I just discovered your channel and you are a excellent teacher!

[@emsunnyside]

Linear burn! Thanks again, Genevieve!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@Subtitled_Deutsch]

thanks, that is what we call clear explanation and to the point

[@ajitpandey4087]

Very technical but made easy to understand !! Thanks

[@AntaraArtCafe]

Very effective tutorial my friend. Thanks for sharing.

[@janetroberts9402]

Hi Genevieve, I love your tutorials and I have just bought your big brush bundle. Would it be possible for you to give us a tutorial on how to remove the background to make a png image but still keep watercolour texture? Please keep up the good work 🥰 Janet

[@redsquirrel6131]

Add and Multiply are my go to blending modes so far.

[@charitylurvey9767]

Omg this is a life saver! Perfect for visual learners 😅

[@Viola-iu7cf]

Thank you ! This is very helpful ❤

[@amylunden8246]

Super helpful! Thank you! 😊

[@saramedhat6619]

I love your tutorials and I am really learning from it , I will be very appreciated if you put English subtitle on this video 😍

[@CourtWatchAu]

Great lesson thankyou

[@purrfectdesignstm]

Thank you so much for your brilliant tutorials and freebies. I hope to buy your illustration set soon to return your kindness.💜🌞

[@joanabessa8548]

Multiply is my favorite blending mode. :)

[@khaohom1026]

I love all your works, they look charming and cute and I'm a fan from Thailand.❤️✨

[@nicw1387]

Linear Burn.. thank you for this wonderful tutorial!!

[@GenevievesDesignStudio]

I'm so glad you liked it, Nick!

[@theblackhairedweirdo4511]

I usually used hardlight for the Glowing fx but there are times where add is the most appropriate to use

[@YappyGoLucky]

Super informative and useful

[@ShinRyuuji]

My entire life, I never understood blending modes. Thank you so much for explaining this

[@andreasolaresfortin]

Thank you so much 🥺💜

[@sharingkonten1056]

Can you draw grapeshot with your ultimate pencil brush? fav blend mode: overlay, multiply, color burn, and add

[@ShelleyDanielle]

Love this. Would also love a tutorial on how to draw this adorable chameleon. :)

[@e.l.2962]

Blending Mode is a fantastic digital illustration tool which isn´t possible to apply in any traditional artworks *v*; and Genevieve has explained it very well.

[@ginatracy2047]

Hi! I love watching your tutorials and blending modes are so fun to play with and I like multiply and overlay the most! Side note: I love your cute chameleon and style. Could you possibly create a tutorial on a fun lizard pleeeeease?? That would be my spirit animal 😉.

[@goldberry9254]

❤️ Thanks for this

[@rycoryco2888]

Very helpful. Question. How to blend 2 distinct shapes - eliminate /soften a hard edge? How to get a shape on top of another shape to blend into the lower shape? Even with no stroke & fill only how to do soften the distinction between 2 shapes. On your example, are the forefront limbs all one shape with the body? If not, how dis you create the blending effect? eg back leg blending into body & tail?

[@KEDARTS745]

beautiful

[@Gaoncar2853]

Sharing how to use it in digital art is informative.

[@drendelous]

superb. i feel empowered now

[@artistmanal2407]

Cool video ❤️❤️

[@ebifuon6776]

Multiply also gets rid of any white on the layer which comes handy when building off of line art. My concept art professor would build buildings, cars, boats, etc by extending a base build of his model then hit control t the transform it to how he wanted it to look then do a top layer with white so it would erase unnecessary lines and so if he needed to adjust he wouldn't need to redraw anything as he never truly erased any thing from the original line art

[@JetBlackJester]

Why would you lower opacity when using vivid light if the effect is too strong, rather than simply using overlay instead?

[@ginalodettimcbride7245]

My password answer: My favorite is multiply! I use it all the time. However, I have found that I really like add lately to add a glow :)

[@casey6222]

I think my favourites are Linear Burn and Add :D

[@anastasiakuprina5099]

My favorite is linear burn!

[@SuzalQ]

Fabulous

[@Thewesostheories]

I love your videos so much and I understand everything you say but I’m a little bit confused about the color swatches !!! I don’t get it I get the words but the swatches not very much

[@intrinsicload]

hey! i don't know if it's just me but I'm *so* confused with all the lines and colors and the grid of stuff. I have so many questions - why are there 4 rectangles? - why do 2 of them have color (The 2nd and 4th rectangles) and why are 2 of them just gray? - where is the red/pink color in the 3rd and 4th rectangles coming from? what the heck does all this mean?

[@JetBlackJester]

This is great at explaining what they do but it would be nice to see more use-cases for how to use these blend modes. I had to guess what they might be . E.g. perhaps Darken and Lighten could be used for objects or light sources respectively in an underwater or thick atmosphere. I think I saw colour dodge being used to paint light from a flame onto a very desaturated or grayscale image.

[@GenevievesDesignStudio]

Thank you for the feedback 😊

[@JetBlackJester]

@@GenevievesDesignStudio I think another thing I'm struggling with is knowing how to pick colours to use with each blending mode. I'm guessing in certain cases (e.g. if you want to apply a particular hue) you need to use something at 50% lightness (or is it value?) so the base layer will determine how it's blended? If you're looking for more ideas for content maybe you could cover use-cases and colour selection in a follow-up video?

[@uhhggg9335]

The color charts with the lines are a little confusing to me but great vid

[@UgodF]

I really didn’t get this one. Your usual videos are much clearer. I think this would benefit from showing examples of pre-and post and actually using these layers while doing a demo, With a live example. The colour chart on the left is not really clear as well.

[@johnk5994]

Color mode is nice

[@anopods8455]

🖤

[@MaoRatto]

Geneieve I feel you forgot to mention the context of these... As someone who illustrates. Multiply ( Most versatile generally won't make your saturated blow up ) Linear Burn ( Great for contrast, but for colored lighting scenerios where you are working on the right side of the saturation spectrum, but always have alpha lock due to needing to tinker the color 24/7, it's a beast, but painful ) Color Dodge ( Your anime color palette highlights, great for most contexts if need saturation in your highlights ) Screen ( Great if just want more control over your highlights and mostly mute highlights. )

[@mariamangion21]

Genevieve, you are so tender-hearted and kind-spirited. Your soul shines the most beautiful, magical light. It's so obvious that the Lord has such a breathtaking, most loveliest purpose for you ❤️

[@em-qc1ht]

God has nothing to do with her talent. She’s incredibly talented but it doesn’t always have to be about god.

[@GenevievesDesignStudio]

@em Hey! It's all good, kind comments are kind comments, no matter what beliefs they are based on 🙏

[@GenevievesDesignStudio]

Thank you, Maria! 🤍

[@mackenzierubish8796]

I prefer multiply only because I use it the most ❤

[@izannazavadska8018]

Your so amazing at art and digital art could you try doing that on paper?? I would love to see that

[@GenevievesDesignStudio]

Thank you 🤍 Here are some examples of what I used to do on paper: facebook.com/genevieves.portraits

[@AcraftyErin]

Linear burn!

[@kate4880]

Can you please do a tutorial of the chameleon? It’s so cute!!! 😇

[@word6344]

I use the inversion modes for eldritch magic effects because of how confusing and unpredictable they are

[@patrickryer4691]

Phew! My brain is full!

[@roythai2599]

I like multiply #Blending Mode.

[@sergiobaud]

Thanks for the freebie ! Je vais écrire en français c’est plus facile pour moi je fais beaucoup de dessins au crayon et je les colores Mais j’ai un iPad avec le crayon dont je ne sais pas trop me servir et tes leçons vont m’aider à utilisé mon ordi pour dessiner et colorier J’ai t’ai découvert sur le site de Joe la guitare c’est mon mentor et je vous apprécie je vous trouve inspirant tous les deux vous faite un beau couple merci à vous deux ! J’ai 73 ans et mes deux passions sont le dessein et la guitare je suis au Mexique pour l’hiver et au Québec l’été voilà tu me connais un peu ?

[@c052794]

i use color dodge and overlay more then anything

[@vogel3d646]

Can you make germany subtitle?

[@deecozy]

linear burn

[@silviadegenhart1533]

I am still confused, although you explain so well. Might be my English is not good enough. I cannot download the cheatsheet - I get the zip - but after I click on it I cannot find it anymore 😥

[@erinjohnson5956]

I had the same problem ☹️

[@GenevievesDesignStudio]

Hi Silvia and Erin! If you are on an iPad, the jpg should open up in the download folder of the "Files" app 😊 You can also look for "Blending-Mode-Cheat-Sheet_by-GenevievesDesign-Studio" in the search bar

[@silviadegenhart1533]

@@GenevievesDesignStudio thanx - now I could open the cheat-sheet 😀😀🙏🙏❤️

[@janetbetz2790]

Multiply

[@basti151291]

I'm really new in digital painting and I didn't even see a big difference to be honest. :/ ... I don't get it at the moment. :D Love your tutorials by the way. :)

[@rosasnodgrass8533]

I'll make ice carving this video I ran into this problem so I love your KZbin channel I never watched Rida fan into it cuz look talk to her me something on so thank you okay and I already have a fading Urban died so now cuz I paused it

[@rosasnodgrass8533]

I was going into that conversation. I don't know how you say it, but I was just copying this video to make my character look cute on the snap until I ran into the work problem, how to turn it on. She never told me how to turn it on 👇

[@khicks72]

Linear Burn.