Blending modes and layer styles

Layer modes determine how each layer intersects or interacts with the layers below it. The layer blending modes in After Effects (formerly Layer Modes and Transfer Modes) are identical to those in Adobe Photoshop.

Most blending modes only change the color values of the original layer, not the alpha channel. The “Add alpha channel” blend mode affects the alpha channel of the source layer, while the Silhouette and Stencil blend modes affect the alpha channels of the layers below the source layer.

It is not possible to apply animation directly to blending modes using keyframes. To change the blend mode at a particular point in time, split the layer at the corresponding point and apply the new blend mode to the portion of the layer following the split point. You can also use the “Complex Arithmetic” effect, the results of which are similar to those of blend modes, but can change over time.

A blending mode is initially applied to each layer, even if that blending mode is the normal default blending mode.

To flip through blending modes for the selected layers, press “-” (hyphen) or “=” (equal sign) on the main keyboard while holding down the SHIFT key.

To apply a blending mode to selected layers, choose a blending mode from the menu in the Modes column of the Timeline panel or from Layer > Blend Mode.

To display the Modes column in the Timeline panel, choose Columns > Modes from the panel menu, or click the Expand or Collapse Transfer Controls area button in the lower left corner of the Timeline panel.

Trish and Chris Meyer have developed a number of tips and tricks for using blend modes to achieve a cinematic effect. These tips are presented in a PDF document on the Artbeats website.

The Overlay Mode menu is divided into eight categories based on the similarity of overlay mode results. The category names do not appear in the interface; the categories are simply separated by separating lines in the menu.

What are Blending Modes in After Effects?

Blending modes in After Effects are used to determine how a layer blends with the layers below it. They function similarly to blending modes in Photoshop and affect the interaction of layers by filtering colors.

How Do Blending Modes Work?

After Effects processes the bottom layer first, calculating its masks, effects, and transformations. It then processes the next layer and combines it with the layers below using the selected blending mode. The default mode is “Normal,” displaying the top layer’s color information.

The Math Behind Blending Modes

Blending modes perform mathematical operations on the color values of the top and bottom layers. Operations like addition, subtraction, and multiplication are used to calculate the result color. For example, in the Multiply mode, the color channel values of the layers are multiplied, darkening the resulting image.

Normal category:

Possible options: “Normal”, “Dissolve”, and “Dissolve Dancing”. As long as the opacity value for the source layer is less than 100%, the color of the bottom pixel has no effect on the resulting pixel color. The “Dissolve” blending modes make some pixels of the source layer transparent.

The “Subtract” category:

Possible options: “Replace with Dark”, “Multiply”, “Base Darkening”, “Base Classic Darkening”, “Linear Darkening”, “Darker Color”. These blend modes tend to make the colors darker by blending the colors in much the same way as blending the dye pigments in paint.

Additive category:

Possible choices: “Additive”, “Replace with Light”, “Screen”, “Base Lightening”, “Base Classic”, “Linear Lightening” and “Lighter Color”. These blend modes tend to make the colors lighter by blending the colors in much the same way as blending projected light.

The “Complex” category:

Possible choices: “Overlap”, “Diffuse Light”, “Directional Light”, “Linear Light”, “Bright Light”, “Spot Light” and “Hard Blend”. These blending modes perform different actions on the source and bottom colors, depending on whether one of the colors is lighter than 50% gray.

Difference Category:

Possible choices: “Difference”, “Classic Difference”, “Exclusion”, “Subtraction”, and “Separation”. These blend modes create colors based on the differences between the values of the original color and the bottom color.

“HSL” category:

Possible choices: “Tone”, “Saturation”, “Color”, and “Brightness”. These blend modes convert one or more of the HSL color representation components (hue, saturation, and luminosity) of the bottom color to the resulting color.

Carpet pad category:

Possible Options: “Alpha Channel Stencil”, “Luminance Stencil”, “Alpha Channel Silhouette”, and “Luminance Silhouette”. These blending modes essentially transform the source layer into a substrate for all lower layers.

Stencil and Silhouette blend modes use alpha channel values or layer luminance values to modify the alpha channel of all lower layers. Using these blending modes is different from using carpet pad tracking, which affects only one layer. Stencil modes go through all layers, so you can, for example, map multiple layers through the alpha channel of a stencil layer. Silhouette modes retouch all layers below the layer to which the overlay mode applies, so you can, for example, create an opening that passes through multiple layers. To prevent silhouette and stencil blending modes from affecting all lower layers, pre-compose the layers to which you want to apply a blending mode, and nest them in the composition.

Types of Blending Modes

Blending modes are categorized based on their effects:

1. Normal Modes: Include ‘Normal’ and ‘Dissolve’, affecting layer visibility based on opacity;
2. Subtractive Modes: Such as ‘Darken’ and ‘Multiply’, darken the resulting image;
3. Additive Modes: Like ‘Add’ and ‘Screen’, lighten the image;
4. Complex Modes: Including ‘Overlay’ and ‘Hard Light’, work based on luminance;
5. Difference Modes: Such as ‘Difference’ and ‘Exclusion’, create unique color effects based on differences between layers;
6. HSL Modes: Affect specific aspects like ‘Hue’, ‘Saturation’, or ‘Luminosity’;
7. Matte and Utility Modes: Focus on transparency and solving specific issues.

Layer Styles in After Effects

Layer styles in After Effects include effects like drop shadow, glow, and bevel, which alter the layer’s appearance. These styles can be animated and customized. Interior layer styles affect opaque pixels, while exterior styles interact with underlying layers. Layer styles also have blending options for more control over their interaction with other layers.

Afterwords 

In summary, blending modes and layer styles in After Effects are powerful tools for creating complex visual effects by controlling how layers interact with each other and altering their appearance in various ways.