Blending Modes (also known as Transfer Modes) let you combine layers creatively by altering how one layer interacts with the layer(s) beneath it. It's a core technique for compositing, texturing, lighting effects, and styling videos or motion graphics.
🧭 Where to Find Blending Modes in AE
✅ Step 1: Open Timeline Panel
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Import your media.
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Drag at least two layers into your timeline (e.g., a text layer over a background).
✅ Step 2: Enable 'Mode' Column
If you don’t see "Mode":
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Click the small “Toggle Switches/Modes” button at the bottom of the timeline panel.
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Or right-click on the column header area and enable Modes.
🔄 How to Apply a Blending Mode
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Select the layer whose blending you want to change.
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Go to the "Mode" column in the timeline.
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Click on the dropdown menu (default is "Normal") and choose a blending mode.
📚 Categories of Blending Modes
| Category | Common Modes | What They Do |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Normal, Dissolve | No blending or random dissolve effect |
| Darken | Darken, Multiply | Darkens the image by comparing pixel values |
| Lighten | Lighten, Screen | Brightens the image by comparing pixels |
| Contrast | Overlay, Soft Light | Combines both darkening and lightening |
| Comparative | Difference, Exclusion | Creates inversion or unique contrasting |
| Color & Light | Hue, Saturation, Color | Changes color info while keeping structure |
💡 Most Used Blending Modes in AE
🖤 Multiply
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Removes white, keeps black
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Great for shadows, grunge textures, ink effects
✨ Screen
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Removes black, keeps white
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Ideal for lens flares, glows, VFX elements
🌀 Overlay
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Mixes contrast with highlights and shadows
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Perfect for stylized blending
🔮 Color
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Transfers only the color hue from one layer to another
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Useful in color grading
🧪 Example Use Cases
🔥 Light FX on Text
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Place fire or glow stock over text
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Set to Screen mode
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Animate opacity or scale for dynamic effect
🧵 Textured Background
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Put grunge texture layer above background
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Set to Overlay or Multiply
🎨 Color Tint with Gradient
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Put gradient layer over footage
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Set to Color mode
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Control intensity with opacity
🎛️ Combine with Other Effects
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Use Blending Modes along with:
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Opacity changes
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Track Mattes
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Adjustment Layers
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Color Effects (Hue/Saturation, Levels)
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📌 Pro Tips
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Blending Modes apply to entire layers (not per pixel like Photoshop masks).
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You can animate the opacity or mode switches to create dynamic transitions.
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Pre-compose complex blends for better organization and performance.
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Use Adjustment Layers with Blending Modes to affect all layers below.
🧙♂️ Bonus: Blending Modes with 3D Layers
If you’re using 3D layers, blending modes still apply, but lighting and depth also affect the result. Combine with Lights, Shadows, and Cameras for cinematic looks.
✅ Recap
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Toggle Modes | Switch "Mode" visibility in timeline |
| Apply Blending Mode | Choose from dropdown in "Mode" column |
| Use with Effects | Combine with opacity, effects, animations |
| Experiment! | Try different modes with textures, overlays, flares |
