After Effects: Using Layer Blending Modes

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Thomas Woodcock·Jan 2025

Demo summary

The instructor shows how to toggle the switches/modes panel and change a layer's blending mode to 'Saturation' or 'Luminosity' to blend textures with the background.

Step-by-step

Locate the Mode column in the timeline panel
Click the drop-down menu for the specific layer you want to blend
Select a blending mode such as Screen, Saturation, or Luminosity
Observe how the layer overlays onto the layers beneath it

Options

Toggle the 'Switches / Modes' button at the bottom of the timeline if the Mode column is hidden
Use 'Screen' mode to filter colors from the background
Use 'Saturation' or 'Luminosity' for stylized texture blending

Tips

Test different blending modes to see which specific look works best for your project
Note that the blending mode affects how the layer overlays on all layers positioned before (underneath) it

Highlights

“now we're getting into some cool territory you know this looks really really nice and I think this is really effective”

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44:111:17Using Layer Blending ModesCurrentThe instructor shows how to toggle the switches/modes panel and change a layer's blending mode to 'Saturation' or 'Luminosity' to blend textures with the background.Thomas Woodcock