[John Brownwood]

also you can add your varying blending mode settings to PS files, then import files, then copy and paste by selecting the layer and copy then select your layer you want to apply it to in AE. be sure to name your PS files appropriately with some idea of the settings. You can make a folder full of small files, technically one pixel is ok, you only need it for the settings on the layer blending mode.

[John Brownwood]

Does anyone have an update to this question. I figured out how to do it statically with a PS file imported with layers set with split sliders in the blending mode options of PS, but how to get the same simple extremely POwERFUL effect so it can be set with differing amounts set with key frames. A slight work around if fading from one image to the other is to set the blending mode in PS and then on the appropriate layer fade image off with opacity, position, scale etc.