Setting Layer Blending Options - Adobe PHOTOSHOP 6.0 Manual

Setting layer blending options

The blending options in the Layer Styles dialog
box (Photoshop) and the Layer Options palette
(ImageReady) let you change a layer's opacity and
blending with the pixels underneath.
Keep in mind that a layer's opacity and blending
mode interact with the opacity and mode of the
tools you use to paint and edit the pixels on the
layer. For example, suppose you are working on a
layer that uses the Dissolve mode and an opacity of
50%. If you paint on this layer using the paint-
brush tool set to Normal mode with an opacity of
100%, the paint will appear in Dissolve mode with
a 50% opacity because this is the maximum the
layer can display. On the other hand, suppose you
are working on a layer created using Normal mode
and 100% opacity. If you use the eraser tool with
an opacity of 50%, only 50% of the paint will
disappear as you erase.
Setting layer blending options
Photoshop provides general and advanced
blending options in the Layer Style dialog box.
Advanced blending options allow you to
customize layer styles and blend selected contents
from multiple layers.
ImageReady provides a subset of the blending
options available in Photoshop in the Layer
Options palette.
To set blending options (Photoshop):
Open the Layer Styles dialog box as described in
1
"Using the Layer Style dialog box (Photoshop)" on
page 220.
In the General Blending section, do the
2
following:
Select a mode from the Blend Mode pop-up
•
menu. (See "Specifying layer blending modes" on
page 217.)
Set the opacity using the opacity slider or text
•
box. (See "Specifying opacity" on page 216.)
In the Advanced Blending section, do the
3
following:
Set a fill opacity using the Fill Opacity slider or
•
text box.
To restrict blending, deselect one or more
•
Channel options.
Choose a knockout option from the Knockout
•
pop-up menu.
Select additional knockout options.
•
• Set a range for the blending operation.
4 To turn off previewing as you choose layer
options, deselect Preview in the Layer Style
dialog box.
5 Click OK.
To set blending options (ImageReady):
1 Choose Windows > Show Layer Options/Style
to display the Layer Options palette. If no options
appear in the palette, choose Show Options from
the Layer Options palette menu or click the Show
Options button ( ) to view all of the options.
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP 6.0 221
User Guide