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Blacks in either image allow the overlapping image to show through completely. Darker
midrange values underneath a specific threshold allow more of the overlapping image
to show. Whites from both images show through in the resulting image.
The order of two layers affected by the Screen blend mode does not matter.
Suggested uses: The Screen blend mode is useful for knocking out the blacks behind a
foreground subject, instead of using a Luma Key. It’s mainly useful when you want the
rest of the foreground subject to be mixed with the background image, based on its
brightness. It’s good for glow and lighting effects and for simulating reflections. You can
also use the Add, Lighten, and Color Dodge blend modes to create variations of this effect.
Top object Bottom object Screen composite
Color Dodge
Whites in either the foreground or background image are preserved in the final image.
Blacks in the background image replace the foreground image, while blacks in the
foreground image become transparent.
Midrange color values in the background image allow midrange color values in the
foreground image to show through. Darker values in the background image allow more
of the foreground image to show through. All overlapping midrange color values are
mixed together, resulting in interesting color mixes.
301Chapter 7 Basic Compositing