4
TRYING TO BLEND IN
In this step, we will use some blending modes to make
things look more realistic. Head over to the blending
modes drop-down menu at the top of the layer panel. By default it
will say normal, so click this and find the hard light option. If this
looks too harsh, you can decrease the opacity values to around
80-90 percent or whatever suits your image best [Image C].
>> Now we are going to add the secondary light source color into
the image. This source will be coming in from the right side of the
image, so we have to erase where we think this new light source
will affect. To do this, select a brush tool and make sure the size
is fairly large for a smoother selection, also turn the hardness
of the brush down to zero percent. Make sure that black is still
the foreground layer and the gradient map layer is selected.
You will see a white box around this thumbnail indicating that it
is. Take your time with this stage, draw out where you think the
secondary light source will hit the subject.
5
INVERTING REALITY
After this is completed, you should have a similar result to
the image below. Next, we need to duplicate this gradient
map layer. CTRL + J works as a shortcut or you can go to the layer
D
drop-down menu at the top, hit new, then select layer via
copy. We then need to invert this layer, so either use the
CTRL + I shortcut or go to the image drop-down menu,
click on adjustments, and then invert.
>> Once it has been inverted, we are going to change
the color of the right side to red, which will create a nice
contrast from the blue. Make sure the new duplicated
gradient map layer we have just inverted is selected.
>> Go into the properties tab and click on the gradient
bar to open up the pop-up window [Image D]. Double
click on the blue bottom right color indicator again and
change it to red or whatever color you want. Select OK on
both the open windows to close them down.
>> Once this is done, it may look good already and that’s
fine. However, it doesn’t always pan out so perfectly.
Our image was too bright so we chose a darker red and
turned the opacity down a little. We then changed the
blue and red areas further by using the brush tool on
both gradient map layers to add or decrease areas of
color. Eventually, we ended up with a believable light
effect. It’s a fun way to add some wow factor to an image
so keep practicing with this one.
Blending modes are essentially lighting
effects that will change accordingly
to the light values in your image, or
selected layer. Working with these
modes in Photoshop is often an
experimental experience. The first time
you try using them, your image might
come out perfectly, or it could end up
being completely ruined.
One thing to note is that the opacity
slider in the layer panel controls how
much the blend affects the layers
below it. If you want a weaker blend,
reduce the opacity and increase it for a
stronger effect.
To help understand the blending
modes a little more, they are split up
into six categories within the drop-
down menu. At the top is the normal
group that contains the default normal
blend mode and a dissolve option.
Below that is the darkening category
with these options: darken, multiply,
color burn, linear burn, and darker
color. Underneath that is the lightening
category with: lighten, screen, color
dodge, linear dodge (add), and lighter
color blending modes.
The next category is for contrasting
blending modes, you can find options
such as the overlay, soft light, hard
light, vivid light, linear light, pin light,
and a hard mix mode here. After that
are the inversion and cancelation
modes with options such as difference,
exclusion, subtract and divide.
Finally, the last options are for
components. These are the hue,
saturation, color, and luminosity. These
categories make it easier to understand
what these blend modes do and what
they affect, but the best method is the
trial-and-error route. Play around
with them as one blend mode could do
something completely different to the
next image you use it on.
BLENDING MODES
C
HOL 2021 MAXIMUMPC 59
