General Controls: Stroke Attributes

You can apply a merge mode to a brush variant to control how brushstrokes interact with the underlying colors within the currently selected layer or, if your painting directly on the canvas, the canvas. This technique allows you to produce similar results to applying a composite method using layers, however, you do not need to use layers to achieve the same results. In addition, it allows you to control where the effect is applied. For more information about composite methods, see Blending Layers by Using Composite Methods.


Merge Mode	Description
Color	Creates a new color by combining the luminance of the underlying color with the hue and saturation of the brushstroke color. This method is the opposite of Luminosity.
Colorize	Replaces the hue and saturation of the underlying color with the hue and saturation of the brushstroke color. You can use this mode to apply color to a grayscale image.
Darken	Darkens the underlying color with the brushstroke color — whichever is darker
Default	Covers and hides the underlying brushstrokes
Difference	Subtracts one color from the other, depending on which color has a greater brightness value
Dissolve	Combines the underlying color with the brushstroke color, based on opacity
Gel	Tints the underlying color with the brushstroke color. For example, a yellow brushstroke gives the underlying color a yellow cast.
GelCover	Uses a combination of the Default method and the Gel method
Hard Light	Multiplies, or screens colors, depending on the luminance of the underlying color
Hue	Creates a color by combining the luminance and saturation of the underlying color with the hue of the brushstroke color
Lighten	Colors with the underlying color or the brushstroke color — whichever is lighter
Luminosity	Creates a new color from the hue and saturation of the underlying color and the luminance of the brushstroke color. This method is the opposite of Color.
Magic Combine	Combines the brushstroke color with the underlying color based on luminance. The parts of the brushstroke that are lighter than the underlying color are visible. The parts that are darker are replaced by the lighter area of the underlying color.
Multiply	Combines colors to create a darker color
Normal	Works like the Default method; the brushstroke covers the underlying color.
Overlay	Combines colors while preserving the highlights and shadows of the underlying color
Pseudocolor	Translates the brushstrokes luminance into hue
Reverse-Out	Inverts the colors beneath it
Saturation	Creates a color by combining the luminance and hue of the image color with the saturation of the layer color
Screen	Combines colors to create a lighter color
Shadow Map	Blocks light and combines colors while preserving the shadows of the underlying color
Soft Light	Darkens or lightens colors depending on the luminance of the underlying color