This blending mode darkens material textures when the selected color is darker than mid gray (RGB 128) and lightens the material textures when the selected color is brighter than mid gray. So, this mode multiplies dark areas and screens light areas; dark areas become darker, light areas become lighter, and objects that are 50% gray are no longer visible.

Therefore, it’s recommended to use material textures where most of the values are around those of mid gray (mid range brightness).

To illustrate the effect of the blending mode, here is a before and after image. The before image on the left has a:

• Background layer of blue colored fabric

• Top layer with an upper horizontal white to black gradient, and below three squares: white, gray, and black.

The after image on the right shows the effect of applying the overlay blending mode.

After applying the overlay blending mode, the image displays like this:

• The white square has blended with the blue fabric to display a lighter blue

• The 50% gray square has disappeared

• The black square has blended with the blue fabric to display a darker blue

• The lighter part of the gradient has blended with the blue fabric to display a lighter blue

• The darker part of the gradient has blended with the blue fabric to display a darker blue

The multiply blending mode multiplies the hue, saturation, and brightness of each pixel of the top layer (color) with the corresponding pixel for the bottom layer (texture). The numerical equivalent of each color is multiplied by the numerical equivalent of the color in the other layer, and the resulting number is divided by 255. The final result determines the displayed color. The result is a darker material. Therefore, bright textures are recommended.

In summary, using the multiply mode, white parts disappear and everything else - other than black - becomes darker. Black is unaffected.

To illustrate the effect of the blending mode, here is a before an after image. The before image on the left has a:

• Background layer of blue colored fabric

• Top layer with an upper horizontal white to black gradient, and below three squares: white, gray, and black.

The after image on the right shows the effect of applying the overlay blending mode.

After applying the multiply blending mode, the image displays like this:

• The white square has disappeared

• The gray square has blended with the blue fabric to display a darker blue

• The black square remains black

• The white part of the gradient has disappeared

• The lighter part of the gradient has blended with the blue fabric to display a darker blue

• The black part of the gradient remains black

This blending mode recolors the texture image color to as close a match as possible with the selected color.