• Adobe After Effects

  Adobe After Effects Transfer Mode

  Posted by Er Bin hao on March 11, 2008 at 4:38 am

  I was just introduced to Adobe After Effects and was, like all other people, extremely amazed by what can be done.

  But, i am still puzzled about some things.

  I really appreciate it if someone were to explain to me what each of the transfer mode in AE really means.

  Thank you all for paying attention to my message and please help to clarify this matter.

  Thanks!!

  Steve Roberts replied 18 years, 6 months ago 4 Members · 3 Replies
• 3 Replies

• 

  Serge Hamad

  March 11, 2008 at 5:21 am

  Hey,

  Use the HELP. You will be amazed about the amount of info you can find at the click of a button;-)

  Search for “Blending Modes” you should find a gallery and each mode explained in detail.

  Salut,
  Serge

  Invigorator/Proanimator Training: https://library.creativecow.net/articles/hamad_serge/invig_training.php
• 

  Darby Edelen

  March 11, 2008 at 6:39 am

  [Er Bin Hao] “I really appreciate it if someone were to explain to me what each of the transfer mode in AE really means.”

  Here’s a link to the AE documentation: https://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/AfterEffects/8.0/WSFB0FE760-71F3-4616-AE88-275D718E7125.html

  The best way to think about blending modes is to consider the layer that has the blend mode applied (let’s call this ‘A’), all layers below that layer (let’s call this ‘B’) and the result of blending these two elements together (let’s call this ‘C’).

  At the most basic level the blending mode is a simple mathematical function that is applied to A and B to end up with C. It isn’t as important that you know these functions (although it can be helpful), so much as that you know what to expect from each blend mode.

  It’s also helpful to note that in these functions, black is equal to a value of 0 and white is equal to a value of 1.

  The ‘Add’ blend mode, for example uses this formula:

  A + B = C

  for example

  0.5 + 0.5 = 1 (middle gray + middle gray = white)
0.2 + 0.6 = 0.8 (dark gray + light gray = very light gray)

  And the ‘Multiply’ blend mode uses this formula:

  A * B = C

  for example

  0.0 * 1.0 = 0.0 (black * white = black)
0.5 * 0.5 = 0.25 (middle gray * middle gray = dark gray)

  Not all of the blend modes have such obvious names, and the functions for them can be more complicated. Take screen for example:

  1 - (A * B) = C

  for example

  1 - (0.0 * 1.0) = 1.0 (black screens white = white)
1 - (0.5 * 0.5) = 0.75 (middle gray screens middle gray = light gray... but not as light as add)

  As I said before, it isn’t as important that you know these functions (although it can be helpful), so much as that you know what to expect from each blend mode. You can find that information here:

  https://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/AfterEffects/8.0/WSFB0FE760-71F3-4616-AE88-275D718E7125.html

  Darby Edelen
  Designer
  Left Coast Digital
  Santa Cruz, CA
• 

  Steve Roberts

  March 11, 2008 at 12:20 pm

  I’d add that in my experience, here’s what I’ve found, in a non-technical way: 🙂

  Add is good for light flashes, blooms, streaks and stuff.
  Screen is similar, but not as bright.
  Multiply is good when adding shadows over things.
  Sometimes I use overlay for effects … can’t recall how at this time.
  Soft light/hard light are good for faking projector effects.
  Hue/sat/lum are good when laying a solid over something else, and giving the solid’s colour (etc.) to the thing below. Experiment.
  I only use difference when testing the similarity of two nearly-identical layers, say, for matching positions or checking compression loss. It’s also good for effects.
  I use pin, dodge, burn for funky effects occasionally.
  The bottom four are used for mattes (cutouts).
  Nobody uses dissolve/dancing dissolve. Pretty much.
  I haven’t found a use for the others yet.

  They all can be used for effects. Test them out.

  Anybody else?

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