Hey, this is Axel from FXhome, here with a tutorial on using Blend Modes for grading.
We will be looking primarily at Imerge Pro in this tutorial, but the techniques we discuss
will work just as well with video files in HitFilm Express or HitFilm Pro. So no matter
what software you are using, these techniques should prove useful.
Here we are in Imerge, and we will look at a bunch of changes we can make using nothing
but adjustment layers and blend modes. In Imerge, create a new Adjustment Layer. Change
the blend mode to Soft Light, and instantly the contrast of the image is boosted, and
the colors get a bit more saturation. If you are using HitFilm, create a Grade layer. Adjustment
layers in Imerge and Grade Layers in HitFilm serve the same purpose; they allow you to
apply effects to all the layers beneath them. They way they do this is by rendering all
the lower layers into a new image, which is then used to calculate the results of any
changes made using the Adjustment or grade layer.
So, when we add an adjustment layer and change its blend mode, the result is the same as
if we duplicated the image or video layer, and changed the blend mode of the copy, but
with half as much decoding required by your computer, and a lot more versatility. If you
want even more contrast than Soft Light brings, then Overlay or Hard Light work well. And
if you want less contrast, you can reduce the Opacity of the grade layer.
You can also use this technique to brighten or darken images. If your source image or
video is too dark, try using Screen to brighten it, or Add for even brighter results. Add
can blow the highlights out if there are bright areas in the layer, so be careful of that.
And to darken layers that are too bright Multiply works well. Multiply can’t restore detail
to blown out highlights, though, so it works best for darkening decently exposed files,
perhaps to help in creating a day for night look.
A few other benefits of this technique: If you have an image which is composited using
multiple layers, you don’t need to duplicate all of those layers, a single grade layer
serves the same purpose, and keeps things simple and fast. Also, you can swap out the
underlying layers or images, and get the same results. In Imerge, this is important for
batch processing multiple images. If you have multiple content variations in a lower layer,
you don’t have to duplicate those images and update every copy for each image. You
can use an adjustment layer above, and then each variation you choose is processed correctly.
Blend modes are one area of editing that frequently benefits from experimentation, so try adding
an Adjustment Layer in Imerge, or a grade layer in HitFilm, and changing the blend mode
to find a result that you like. In Imerge they are divided into groups, based on their
behavior. For the top three groups, the first mode listed indicates the group’s general
behavior. These are normal, all the options in this group darken your image, this group
lightens it. The next group alters contrast, and the last group provides HSL adjustments;
Hue, Saturation, and Luminosity. The remaining group includes all the other stray modes that
don’t fit into the other categories. Remembering this can be helpful when experimenting with
the blend modes, so you aren’t flying completely blind.
You can also add effects into this technique, to further control the results. If we select
screen blend mode, and add a blur to the adjustment layer, we get a diffusion effect. Blurs can
also soften the results of other blend modes. You can use Levels or Curves to block the
results from affecting the brightest or darkest areas of the image. Or, add a Black And White
effect to the adjustment layer, to create a high contrast image with muted colors. The
HSL blend modes are also useful for applying effects. (LaPush) You can use effects to make
adjustments, then apply those adjustments to specific channels, such as the Luminosity,
the Hue, or the Saturation. For example, if we remove these effects and create a gradient
on the adjustment layer, then blend it using Color, we retain all the luminosity of the
underlying layer, and just apply the color data of the gradient to it.
These are just a few of the numerous possibilities offered by blend modes. They're versatile
and easy to experiment with, so I encourage you to try them out. Thanks very much for
watching, and you can learn more about Imerge Pro here. Remember to subscribe if you want
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