Layer Properties Blend Range

[Jean-Luc]

A friend asked me when and how to use the Blend system in the Layer Properties window.
I never used those settings and I cannot explain with a practical example how to use it.

Could an user here give some situations where those settings may be applied ?

Thanks in advance.

[LeviFiction]

"Blend Range" in PSP is the same, or close it anyway, of "Blend If" in Photoshop.

Personally, while still confusing, I think "Blend If" is a better description of how it works. Blend Range determines if a pixel is on or off based on where you put the arrows. The top slider is for the current layer, the bottom slider is the layer it's trying to blend with. So you'd use this most often with blend modes. It's like a mask based on luminance values in the layer.

I can't explain it well, or exactly where you'd use it.

Maybe this Photoshop tutorial will help - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypil2sfW3SI

[hartpaul]

Here is a written tutorial showing the Blend If in Photoshop which is similar to the Blend Ranges in Paintshop pro.
https://www.photoshopessentials.com/pho ... /blend-if/

I did research this feature way back so will look it up again and see if I can show some practical effects in Paintshop pro.
EDIT:
another video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GKDBXr ... e=youtu.be

1. load a background image eg rough fence , brick wall, rock face. (I used an image 600 pixels on longest side).
2. Choose text tool and type in some text - wide letters look better , I used Batavia font and primary red.

3. Convert the text layer to a raster layer.
4. With the text layer active, do a Gaussian blur Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur and radius about 2-3, this will make the edges soft and less artificial .
5. Right click the Text layer and choose Properties and choose the Blend Ranges tab.
6. By moving the sliders of the Underlying Layer you can control what parts of the fence show through the red test. I moved the upper slider to 235 and the lower slider to 12.

7. The result shows what looks like faded red paint on a fence.

Another example of what can be done

[Jean-Luc]

Maybe this Photoshop tutorial will help - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypil2sfW3SI

Yes, it helps ! Very well explained .
Thank you !

[Jean-Luc]

Another example of what can be done

Thank you hartpaul, your example is very interesting.

I understand now the power of the Blend mode.

[hartpaul]

Have been looking for a very interesting tutorial, but my printout was from 2010 and the site is no longer existent with those tutorials. But in search found some more info on the Blend If (PS) and Blend Range (PSP).

Moon behind trees
https://www.panosfx.com/photoshop-tutorials/blend-if
greywhitecirular gradient
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skpm5WBAqpQ
Reflection on water.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbysd6Dh_3I

The tutorial I was looking for showed a concrete wall with dark water/biological stains near the bottom. A layer of moss was placed on top of this and by adjusting the underlying layer sliders the moss could be shown as strongest near the bottoom dark area and disappearing as the concrete became lighter higher up. Just what you would expect of moss growing up a wall.

[Jean-Luc]

Thank you Hartpaul. Very instructive !
I'm discovering the power of this technique.

Jean-Luc

[hartpaul]

But wait there's more:

Another written tutorial on Photoshop Blend If from 2002

http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=26131

and another from 2002

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/blen ... nique-4744

Another tutorial from graphictablets (site now deceased) had some pertinent info and used examples with Paintshop pro

"The Blend Ranges can be modified for the three color channels (red,green and blue) as well as the gray channel which deals with the lightness values. That is the one we will work with.

There are two sliders - This Layer and Underlying Layer and they are the ones that are moves to create the adjustments.

This Layer - moving the black and /or white sliders for this layer will cause areas of the layer to disappear. The White slider will affect the lightest part of the image and the black slider will affect the darkest part of the image.

Moving the sliders on This Layer conceals pixel information.

Underlying layer - Moving the black and /or white sliders will cause areas of the underlying layer (the one below) to show through the selected layer - these sliders, in effect punch a hole through the selected layer to varying degrees depending on the settings of the sliders. The white slider will affect the lightest part of the images and the black slider will affect the darkest part of the image

Moving the sliders on the Underlying Layer reveals pixel information.

From one of the videos referenced I combined that and the above :
This Layer

Underlying Layer

[Jean-Luc]

But wait there's more:

Thank you !
It is useful !

PS : Very few tutorials for PaintShop Pro although the function exists in PSP since years...

[hartpaul]

And some practical examples of what can be done:

Mix of Warner Brothers and MGM ?

This can be done with tree silhouette, clouds where light and dark are present.