Conceptual Compositing Using Blending Modes in Photoshop
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DifficultyMedium
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Length2.25 hours
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Description
Explore the power of Blending Modes in Photoshop! In this tutorial, you’ll learn to create conceptual images by using these modes to easily add texture and light, make artistic double exposures, and build captivating composites. We even include a PDF guide to help you understand how eight special blending modes use Fill and Opacity in unique ways, letting you create truly impressive visual effects.
THIS COURSE INCLUDES
- 22 Sample Images
- 7 Sample PSDs
- 1 PDF Guide
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Table of Contents
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Blend. Create. Amaze.
AFTER
BEFORE
Blending Modes Explained
A Blending Mode controls how two layers blend their pixels together. Photoshop uses your chosen mode to check overlapping areas and decide the final look. In this tutorial we’ll teach you everything you need to know so you can add new elements, make vibrant composites, and build creative scenes that stand out.
Opacity & Fill
Layer blending in Photoshop begins with Opacity and Fill. They both affect the transparency of a layer in exactly the same way, the difference being that Fill will not reduce the transparency of any Layer Styles. We’ll guide through different examples to show you how to use Fill and Opacity to create stunning, advanced effects.
Double Exposure
Learn how to combine two images to create a double exposure effect. We’ll show you how to use Screen mode to elegantly merge light from both images, resulting in a captivating artistic portrait that combines your subject with a dramatic scene.
AFTER
BEFORE
Multiply Mode
One of the most used Blending Modes in Photoshop, Multiply has near endless applications. Learn to add detail and contrast to washed out areas of an image or if you’re a product photographer, learn to use it to remove a white background so you can place products in any environment.
Combining Tools
In this tutorial, you’ll learn to combine the precision of Blending Modes with the powerful finishing capabilities of Adobe Camera Raw. Applied as a Smart Filter, ACR unifies the image by adding texture (grain) and adjusting color grading across shadows, midtones, and highlights. This step ensures the blended images are cohesive, making the final artistic portrait look polished and complete.
Layer Masks
Layer Masks are essential for refining blending modes, letting you control where the effect is visible. By using tools like Select Subject and Select and Mask, you can precisely hide the blended layer from your subject while keeping it visible in the background, creating a seamless conceptual composite where elements are positioned exactly where you want them.
Composites Made Easy
The Next Level of Blending
Use Blending Modes to seamlessly merge multiple images, adding texture and light to build professional, complex composites in no time.
AFTER
BEFORE
Combining Modes
Learn how to combine different Blending Modes, such as Screen, Difference, and Lighten, to build rich, multi-layered conceptual composites. Each mode is selected to strategically blend different images and textures, allowing us to control light, create contrast, and introduce funky, colorful effects that unify the final artistic portrait.
Adding Textures
Creating an effective compositing relies on smart image selection, where textures can be added to visually complement the base portrait’s existing color palette. In this tutorial, we’ll teach you not only how to select the best images, but also how to use Blending Modes to seamlessly merge your chosen textures for a cohesive final image.
Remove Distractions
Effective compositing often begins with Object Removal using tools like Generative Fill. We’ll show you how to quickly eliminate unwanted original background elements, such as harsh lines or distracting features. Cleaning the background first ensures a smooth, abstract canvas, making it much easier to seamlessly blend new textures and maintain a cohesive, artistic final image.
AFTER
BEFORE
Your PDF Reference
We know you’ll learn a lot as you work through this tutorial but we also hope that it can act as a reference for you in the future. That’s why we’re including a PDF guide that explains how Blending Modes operate and contains the secrets to using the eight special modes that interact differently with Fill and Opacity.
Hands-On Learning
This tutorial includes an incredible learning package! You’ll have over 20 sample images at your fingertips, giving you a huge variety of subjects to practice on. Plus, with our downloadable PSDs, you won’t just learn how to create these effects; you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at exactly how they’re built, layer by layer. This hands-on resource is designed to help you master every technique, making your own photo editing journey faster and more effective.
Compositing Learning Path
Explore more on conceptual compositing with our Magical Compositing Learning Path. From mastering light and color with stock images to exploring mind-bending creations by guest artists, and even discovering some of our most classic composites, this learning path empowers you to bring your wildest visions to life.
Aaron Nace
PHLEARN Founder – Class Instructor
Aaron Nace is a photographer, Photoshop artist and founder of PHLEARN. He is the #1 Photoshop instructor in the world with millions of YouTube subscribers.
View More Classes by Aaron Nace
Special thanks to Julen Rey Azcona, Elisa Kerschbaumer, Jay Soundo, Nikita Pishchugin, Jordon Conner, Pure Julia, Aperture Vintage, Karan Suthar, Schayan Kasmaei, Solen Feyissa, Ahmet Yuksek, Karolina Grabowska, Lorin Both, Solen Feyissa, Tony Frost, and Victoria Alexander
Images for this PRO course were sourced from Unsplash .
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I have just started this tutorial and have seen only the first section so far, but already I want to give a 5 star thumbs up. The focus of this tutorial is something very useful to what I do with photography. In addition, as with all your other more recent PRO tutorials, I am learning so many new things about Photoshop that I didn’t know before despite having worked with both Photoshop and Lightroom for so long and subscribing to you for years. In particular, in the first section, you show how to adjust the layout of the tools windows in Photoshop, something that always had been a trial and error mystery to me. You demonstrate using ACR at any point within the Photoshop editing workflow as a way to perform all the useful tasks that I normally only do in Lightroom as a first or last editing step, such as color grading and vignetting. This is so useful. And I am grateful for your demonstration of the differences between Fill vs Opacity. The use of Fill has always been a mystery to me, but now I am going to make use of it more. I also never knew that the opacity and blending mode of individual filters in a smart object could be adjusted. Looking forward to the rest of this tutorial, and whatever you come up with next.
Love this tutorial! I’m currently very interested in the different things that can be accomplished with textures. Thank you for what you do.
Dear Mr. Aaron Nace My name is Nagib, and I’m writing to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible work you’ve done through Phlearn and for the inspiration you’ve shared with creatives like me around the world. Since joining your community, my understanding of Photoshop and photography has completely transformed. Your way of teaching — patient, passionate, and full of genuine care — has helped me not only improve my technical skills but also fall in love with the creative process itself. Every tutorial feels personal, as if you’re speaking directly to me, guiding me step by step with kindness and clarity. Because of you, I’ve gained confidence in my design abilities and taken my creativity to the next level. Thank you for dedicating your time and energy to helping others learn, grow, and believe in their potential. Your impact reaches far beyond your videos — you’ve inspired a generation of artists, including me here in Switzerland. With sincere appreciation, Nagib Thun, Switzerland
I really loved this one, where you can generate some nifty effects in the background and have it wash over the subject to do other outcomes. The only negative i can see and its super minor was in tutorial 2 Aarron don’t wear that black with white dotted shirt as it was distracting a little as there was a little flicker localised to the shirt. I think it was down to the camera. Overall, what can i say but more please loved it.