[Mr Weasel]

What's the difference between setting blending modes on airbrush and layers ?

[Sergenth]

I've never used them before (on purpose)

I experimented a bit with the airbrush blending modes - they all don't work like they should. Color Dodge and Color Burn look reversed.

When you use a Color Dodge Brush, and Color Dodge the layer it's on, then the paintstrokes disappear completely! Same happens with Color Burn

It's a big, big mystery!

[synj]

eheh, i dont even know how dodge/burn work in the slightest. I'm damn good at destroying my pictures completely with them though.

-synj www.synj.net
Ridiculously good stuff.

[- Dasyati -]

I'm pretty sure setting airbrush blend modes affects how the airbrush affects the layer you're working on. You're actually painting on that layer.

Creating a new layer and setting a blending mode uses the color values on that layer as a reference for what to do to the layer beneath it. You aren't really painting on the underlying layer, but your strokes are being used as a guide to temporarily modify the layer beneath it.

The way Photoshop calculates blending for layers restricts the colors that would end up affecting the image...say you have a picture, and you've streaked some paint across a separate layer on top set to Multiply...if you dodge on that top layer it'll just fade away and reveal what's underneath...that's because Multiply is meant to darken, not lighten...so the Color-Dodge-on-Color-Dodge-layer thingy is probably a similar matter

Also I'm pretty sure dodge and burn require an existing color to dodge/burn onto, meaning you couldn't use it on a completely empty layer. But don't quote me on it, after all I use Paint Shop Pro

Did this help or am I just rambling?