GIMP 2.10 Tutorial: All Layer Modes Explained

In this GIMP 2.10 tutorial, I explain all 38 layer modes found in GIMP. This comprehensive overview includes brief explanations of the formulas used to produce the final results of each layer mode, and a demonstration of the effect created by the layer mode using various photos, layers, and layer masks. By the end of this tutorial, you should have a firm grasp on what each layer mode does within this free photo editing and graphic design program.

I cover the new layer modes added with GIMP 2.10, as well as the legacy layer modes that have been around through the years in older version of GIMP.

GIMP users of all levels (especially beginners) will find this overview helpful. It goes into both the technical and practical sides of layer modes!

For those of you coming from Photoshop, you may be used to the term "Blend Mode." Layer Modes and Blend Modes are synonymous - they are the same thing (and the Layer Modes in GIMP are very similar and in some instances the same as they are in Photoshop).

Intro - 0:00
3:58 Overview
------------------------------
6:18 Normal
7:26 Dissolve
9:10 Color erase
11:14 Erase
13:52 Merge
14:23 Split
------------------------------
14:58 Lighten only
18:23 Luma/Luminance lighten only
19:25 Screen
21:07 Dodge
22:35 Addition
------------------------------
23:50 Darken only
25:46 Luma/Luminance darken only
26:11 Multiply
27:58 Burn
28:31 Linear burn
------------------------------
29:14 Overlay
29:56 Soft light
31:23 Hard light
34:48 Vivid light
36:25 Pin light
38:09 Linear light
------------------------------
38:45 Hard mix
40:50 Difference
42:32 Exclusion
43:25 Subtract
43:39 Grain extract
44:36 Grain merge
46:04 Divide
------------------------------
48:16 HSV Hue
49:37 HSV Saturation
50:37 HSL Color
52:44 HSV Value
------------------------------
54:17 LCh Hue
54:47 LCh Chroma
55:14 LCh Color
55:56 LCh Lightness
56:23 Luminance

Visit our website for more text and video tutorials:

Enroll in Our GIMP Photo Editing Masterclass:

Thanks to our Diamond Level Patrons who support us on Patreon!
Ken Brewer
Dilli Contradiction

Thanks to our Gold Level Patrons who support us on Patreon!
BashMurals
commodore256
Cedric Debono
Jamie Fraser
Judd West

Thanks to our Silver Level Patrons who support us on Patreon!
Stephanie Paynter
Pierre Parenteau

Support our channel and help us grow by becoming a Patron today - and get cool rewards in return:

See how you can help out the GIMP Team:

Download the latest version of GIMP 2.10:

Twitter: @DaviesMediaDes

#LayerModes #BlendModes #Layers

[thingsiplay]

3:58 Overview

6:18 Normal
7:26 Dissolve
9:10 Color erase
11:14 Erase
13:52 Merge
14:23 Split

14:58 Lighten only
18:23 Luma/Luminance lighten only
19:25 Screen
21:07 Dodge
22:35 Addition

23:50 Darken only
25:46 Luma/Luminance darken only
26:11 Multiply
27:58 Burn
28:31 Linear burn

29:14 Overlay
29:56 Soft light
31:23 Hard light
34:48 Vivid light
36:25 Pin light
38:09 Linear light

38:45 Hard mix
40:50 Difference
42:32 Exclusion
43:25 Subtract
43:39 Grain extract
44:36 Grain merge
46:04 Divide

48:16 HSV Hue
49:37 HSV Saturation
50:37 HSL Color
52:44 HSV Value

54:17 LCh Hue
54:47 LCh Chroma
55:14 LCh Color
55:56 LCh Lightness
56:23 Luminance

[glow]

This man is awesome. He is definitely the best mentor. The way he explains that stuff and makes it comprehensive is super cool and amazing.

[DaviesMediaDesign]

At 19:30 I begin to go into the equation for the Screen mode - and I incorrectly state that the pixel value of the bottom layer is SUBTRACTED from the pixel value of the top layer in the top part (numerator) of the equation. On the contrary, the pixel value of the top layer is MULTIPLIED BY the pixel value of the bottom layer. My apologies - I know some of you have been losing sleep over that one.

[Nice-Y]

Wow, when I requested this, I didn't expect it to be so comprehensive. You're awesome!

[thingsiplay]

I want to thank you for this very valuable tutorial. It explains every detail about layer modes. I have never seen this before. Until now, to me the layer modes was just random effects. I shared your video at Reddit. There is a Gimp group and they generally seem to like your tutorials. Keep up your good work.

[glow]

His every word is so valuable. His videos are very valuable. He is a pro.

[warlanefam]

Man I absolutely love this channel, it's so to the point, no gimmicks

[jafffar]

Am a simple guy, whenever I see michael davies, i just like^^

[NightFireXD]

omg your so awesome ty for this :D i have dyslexia and you explain it just right. I have finely gotten the hang of GIMP again i am so taking your master classes in the future. I have already come so far in my work...this is no longer a hobby it's a mission :D Namaste

[surinfarmwest]

Micheal,


An hour well spent understanding why the modes do what they do. Thank you for the maths formula that helps me understand a lot and most of all, thank you for sharing this.


West

[EdgeLagerthaSeawolf]

I'm glad I stumbled onto this video you've been such a great help showing every layer mode before and after so that we can understand the effects. I can't begin to tell you how much this is going to help speed things up in my work. Thanks so very much for all the work you put into this video.

[MrDirtyRod]

Excellent tutorial. Learned a bunch. Worth the price of the MasterClass by itself.

[angel_of_rust]

Grain Extract is a personal favorite of mine. I use it to "bake" a 3D model's normal map into its texture. You would first desaturate the normal map, put it on top of the texture, then set the desaturated normal map's mode to Grain Extract and now the texture looks like it has the normal applied.

[INTJIsland]

Excellent tutorial. Thank you. Years ago I used to do my own film and prints in a darkroom and I used the dodge and burn techniques with the print paper working with the enlarger, by blocking out parts of the image while other parts were exposed longer. It would be tough to do that to the film but it worked fine on the paper prints. I did hundreds and hundreds of pictures when my youngest boy was a baby. That was 41 years ago. Working with digital is a lot easier. :-)

[somboku]

your explanation, and the speed is amazing. thanks, this was a great vid and really helpfull

[sunesnigel]

I thought this was all magic from the dark side that no living person could explain. You're a (living)hero!

[flamediaestrategia]

Very useful tutorial, very technical and explaining the fundamentals, some stuff that I had not cared to learn before. Thanks Davies, that was amazing man.

[nmomin]

Thanks So much Mike. Was waiting patiently for layer mode tutorials.

[Gidjoiner]

I like the grain extract, duplicating the layer, off-setting the two just by a few pixels then adding to the original in a new image with grain merge, lowering the opacity of that layer really sharpened up one of my pics Thanks 😊

[baruchben-david]

Thank you. Your video has taught me a great deal.