Photoshop Layers Modi

[spassig]

Hello

In the past, I did not deal more intensively with level modes.
Now I want to learn it ;-)
The help with regard to I looked at explanations of modes on the www.
I have now exported nine different images from CaptureOne as PSD to PS.
All landscape images.

Questions:
A) For some of the modes, I see no effect when applying if I select the corresponding default.
Speckle, darken, darker color and so on. Everything compared to normal.
Don’t I understand the workflow or does my monitor Eizo CG279X - or my eyes - not show the changes?

B) Is it "better" to open the original RAWs in PS to apply layer modes or is the export from C1 as PSD?

C) Are there any recommendations regarding the application of layer modes in the images, even if they are all well exposed (histogram)?

Thanks for feedback.

Jochen

 

[darr]

Layer modes only work when a layer has something beneath it to interact with. They change how one layer blends with another. If you’re working with a single, flat image with no additional layers, blend modes won’t produce any visible effect because there’s nothing underneath for Photoshop to blend with. Add another layer, duplicate the image or place a second one, and the modes will behave as expected.

 

[spassig]

Layer modes only work when a layer has something beneath it to interact with. They change how one layer blends with another. If you’re working with a single, flat image with no additional layers, blend modes won’t produce any visible effect because there’s nothing underneath for Photoshop to blend with. Add another layer, duplicate the image or place a second one, and the modes will behave as expected.

@darr
Thanks for quick feedback.
I created a second layer for each picture, but I don't see any change in some pictures.

Jochen

 

[darr]

Not all blend modes will produce a noticeable change, and each image responds differently. Every group of modes is designed to create a specific type of effect. To really understand how they work, it’s worth exploring some YouTube tutorials, blend modes go much deeper than what can be explained in a short forum post.

 

[baudolino]

Let me give you two examples:

(1) copy your background image using Cmd J. Select the new lawyer and convert it for use with smart filters. Then, go to Filters, Other, High Pass. The image will turn grey, with just outlines visible. Use the controls in the dialog box to make the outlines very faint, barely visible. Then go to the little menu underneath the new layer and double click the symbol (I think it looks like a triangle, not in front of PS now) that lets you adjust the blending modes. When the dialog box appears, turn the blending mode from Normal to Overlay (or Soft Light). Voila, the image returns to its normal appearance but it has been sharpened now. If the sharpening looks too intense, you can change the opacity of the upper layer. Or change the blending mode. Or go back to the dialog box where you select how visible the outlines are in the grey image. This used to be a very popular sharpening routine.

(2) copy your background image using Cmd J. Change the blending mode to Soft Light. Noticed the increased contrast of the image? Again, fine tune using Opacity. If not enough contrast, Cmd J to double the effect. If you want just 1.5x the effect, reduce the opacity of the uppermost layer to 50%.

Plenty of other useful tricks along these lines. Don't waste your time blindly "experimenting" (you could experimentally prove that one can't create gold by blowing cigarette smoke into a sink full of water...quoting a famous Czech comedy...but it would be a waste of your time). Ask your favourite AI language model to identify practical and popular examples of using the Photoshop layer blending modes to achieve useful effects in image processing. I am sure you will find some good ones for your purposes.

 

[spassig]

Let me give you two examples:....

Thanks for feedback
I read your answer and will try to implement your suggestions.

Kochen

 

[spassig]

copy your background image using Cmd J.
I have done it.

Select the new lawyer and convert it for use with smart filters.
I use Menu > Filter > Für Smartfilter konvertieren (Convert for Smartfilter).

Then, go to Filters, Other, High Pass.
The image will turn grey, with just outlines visible.
I have done it and see on the right following.
Is it right so me?

Jochen

 

[spassig]

...Use the controls in the dialog box to make the outlines very faint, barely visible.
The outlines are already weaker in the picture.

Then go to the little menu underneath the new layer and double click the symbol (I think it looks like a triangle, not in front of PS now) that lets you adjust the blending modes.
I dont understand this.

Jochen

 

[baudolino]

When the image looks grey, you can change the radius to make the outlines more or less prominent. This will regulate the intensity of sharpening. Regarding your second question, double click the two parallel lines with the little triangles in them. this should bring up a dialog where you can change the blending mode.

 

[baudolino]

Jochen, I am in front of my computer now. Look at the three images below. First image: change the radius to regulate the intensity of sharpening. Second Image: change blending mode to make the image look normal again, not grey with outlines. Third image: I have circled where you need to double click to get to the dialog shown in the second image. It is worth noting that your file will double in size (megabytes) because you now have two layers with all the image info in each (if you work with very large files, e.g. from a 150MP digital back, this sharpening method will not be ideal). Anyway you now have a sharpened image overlayed above the original image. As I wrote before, you can reduce the opacity of the sharpened image, lessening the appearance of sharpness. Perhaps more useful, you can now also create a layer mask, invert it, select a brush and paint the sharpening effect back selectively, only where you want the sharpening to apply (e.g. just your model's eyes and eyelashes but not the wrinkles around them). Regards , Martin

 

[TimoK]

...Use the controls in the dialog box to make the outlines very faint, barely visible.
The outlines are already weaker in the picture.

Then go to the little menu underneath the new layer and double click the symbol (I think it looks like a triangle, not in front of PS now) that lets you adjust the blending modes.
I dont understand this.

Jochen

I think you should change the whole copy layer's blend mode to Overlay. ( or soft light or hard light ). I'm not sure because I have PS no more.
High Pass is still my main sharpening method in Gimp. Works well but slowly with 150mp pictures.

Look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blend_modes#

 

[spassig]

all.
Thanks for feedback
Meanwhile, I found a YouTube video in which "all" functions are presented and explained.

I'll look at that first before it goes on.

Jochen (.de)

 

[tenmangu81]

Hi Jochen,

I'd be interested in a link to your Youtube video, when possible.
Thanks !

 

[spassig]

Hi Jochen,

I'd be interested in a link to your Youtube video, when possible.
Thanks !

For me good because it is German;-)

Jochen

 

[tenmangu81]

Thank you !! I can get a translation in (bad) French, but I think I can find a tuto in French as well.