: Gimp paintbrush blendmodes usage While I can understand singularly every blend mode of the paintbrush from the math point of view, I cannot find a use for most of them (the only ones I used

@Megan533

First, I use Krita on my works, but blend modes are essentialy the same thing, math operations, maybe somes I will talk here exist only in Krita, but as there is no answer, here it goes:

Addition
I use it to create intense specular light effects and glowing areas.

Color dodge
it did not "flare" as addition but in contrast it produce much more saturated light, it is good for "neon" light effects. Color dodge may be better than linear dodge, as linear dodge damage a lot dark areas and we are very sensitive to small variations in darker tones.

Overlay
I use it to boost contrast and make colors more vivid, it can ruin the image so I'm careful with it because it can ruin the work oversaturating it, it can be used to add patterns too, making the pattern layer work in overlay mode.

Lighten
I use it to build fog levels based on darker distant areas as it lighten only areas that are darker than the brush color

greater
I use it in help to paint transparent glasses,dresses,etc. It is helpful to paint transparently uniform area because it did not allow the layer to surpass brush transparency, so multiple strokes don't overlay.

multiply
simplified shadows, dark patterns. I recommend not abusing it, "shadows have their own color, are not only light based"

soft light
soft sun light casting from windows, soft light casts...


I would like to add that programs like Krita have a ridiculous
huge list of blend modes, but a small number are really useful.
Keeping it simple, in my view, is the best approach in digital
painting, it is as simple as traditional, you don't need dozens of
brushes and blending modes, the majority have a reduced use and abusing
this can result in weird results, so my advise is, paint as a
traditional artist (mix colors with brushes) and minimally complement
with special brushes and blend modes to avoid weird results and
mechanical/stamp strokes.
I point it because many people may read it, and generally come to digital expecting the computer to "compose" their work for them. Not to point digital painting has it's own problems.


screen, addition, linear dodge, divide, color dodge are not "light brushes" it will look weird if used everywhere.

burn, darker, subtract multiply are not "shadow brushes", it will look weird if used everywhere.

color + black and white (value) painting is not the same as painting yourself with colors, it will look "grayish" and in lack of contrast, you can mitigate it using overlay and color dodge but using brush with normal colors will produce different results.

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