graphicxtras Tutorials Brushes + plug-ins etc E-mail us

graphicxtras.com > tutorials > Photoshop shapes

How to use blending modes with Photoshop shapes tutorial

How to use custom shapes with the Photoshop blending modes such as darken, difference, lighten etc in CC 2018 2017 2015 2014 CS6 CS5 etc

Blending modes and Photoshop custom shapes

how to use blending modes with Photoshop custom shapes

Select the custom shapes tool from the Photoshop toolbar
Select shape layer option
Select a shape from the presets picker
Apply shape
Apply shape
Set color via the top bar fill
Go to the layers panel
Set the Photoshop blending mode to darken

Video tutorial on the subject by graphicxtras.com (youtube)

Basics : basic Select the CSH tool and set the option to 'layer' and then add the layer with the current design (or select another). You can then go to the layer panel and select the Photoshop blending modes 'darken' / difference / lighten etc for the shape as well as the opacity - set them to your required setting. The change reflects how to the layer interacts with underlying layers.

You can modify this at any point as well as change the color and the stroke of the vector. You can repeat this with new vectors to create all kinds of images.

Buy Price : $3.49 US or equivalent. 13,000 Vector artworks for your projects CSH gallery

Using with layers : layer Some modes work better than others with the Photoshop custom shapes and it can also depend on the color (so if you try to use the blending modes with Photoshop shapes and the color is black or white or if the color of the background is black then the result may not be very impressive)

Using some modes you will see zero change as the current color of one layer is already greater or less than the underlying color and there that will be seen and not the underlying or a mix of the two.

The good thing about using layers is that the darken etc can be changed to difference in seconds via the layers panel

Pixel option and the blending modes with Photoshop shapes : pixels Set the mode as well as the opacity for the artwork before you apply it. Once you have applied it, you cannot change the result other than undoing the application of the design or using the fade command

For example, select CSH tool from the toolbar and then select a preset from presets dropdown / picker. Set color via foreground color. Set the mode found along the top bar to darken.

Fade : fade You can also use the artworks with the edit menu and fade command. Apply the Photoshop shapes as a pixel design and then go to the edit menu and fade command. You can set the applied shape to merge with the artwork in difference or darken or lighten etc via the dropdown in the fade panel. You can also set the opacity for the merge such as 50%. You can use the blending modes with the Photoshop shapes and fade to create all kiinds of designs and as the preview is by default ON, you can see the result of the design without having to second guess the result of a particular blending mode and how with will interact with tools such as Photoshop shapes as well as brushes and other presets - the fade feature is a super useful feature. It is a pity that is not possible to fade the fade but in that case, you can simply undo or use the history panel to go back to an earlier state and then re-apply the vector artwork

Dropdown list : squares There are many different available for the vector designs. Each have their uses. Opposite you can see the result of a single color vector rectangle added on top of a two color artwork.

Two colors then becomes four colors in the design.

Normal

Dissolve

Darken

Multiply

Color burn

Linear burn

Darker color

Lighten

Screen

Color dodge

Linear dodge (add)

Lighter color

Overlay

Soft light

Hard light

Vivid light

Linear light

Pin light

Hard mix

Difference

Exclusion

Subtract

Divide

Hue

Saturation

Color

Luminosity

Clear and behind : behind The clear and behind are slightly different as they only appear when you use the pixel option and only when you apply it on a layer. How to use the blending modes with Photoshop shapes and clear / behind is the same as all the other modes though.

Add something on the layer and then set to behind and then apply again and the artwork will only be added to the 'empty' areas on the layer (it is as if you had added that to the layer first and is 'behind' the current pixels - the original will be untouched.

Set to clear and it is like an erase and clears the pixels (and leaves the empty area untouched)

Layer style panel : style You can also alter the Photoshop blending mode for custom shapes via the layer style panel if you are using the artworks as layers. You can also set the opacity.

Goto the layer styles command and then go to the

You can also use the options tab at the top of the dialog.

You can also change the BM to work in red and green and blue channels via the same panel - if you decide to only use the red channel then de-select the green and blue.

Keywords : How to use blending modes with Photoshop shapes tutorial