Using the Blending Sliders in Photoshop

One of my favorite techniques for removing (i.e. make transparent) dark or light areas of an image is to use the blending sliders available inside the Layer Style dialog box within Photoshop. These blending sliders are easily overlooked in pursuit of the more commonly-used Layer Styles available in this dialog box.

To demonstrate this technique, I am going to combine the water image on the left with the shell image on the right. I want the end result showing the splash and runoff of the water over the shells – giving it more of a ‘being on the beach’ feel and almost hearing the waves going in and out.

Water Image

Shell

Combined Image

To get this effect, we’ll place the water image over the shells then remove the darker areas of the water image. The blending sliders are perfect for this!

After opening both images in Photoshop, I place the water image over the shells image with the move tool.

Move water image to shells image.

To bring up the blending sliders, we need to get to the Layer Style dialog box. Double-click to the right of ‘Layer 1’ in the Layers palette or click on ‘Add a Layer Style’ icon at the bottom of the Layers palette (the fx icon) and select Blending Options.

Add style.

In the Layer Style dialog box, notice the two sliders at the bottom. The top slider affects the top image. The bottom slider affects the bottom (underlying image). We will only use the top slider to remove the dark areas of the water image.

To get a feel for this slider, click and drag either the left or right slider towards the middle. You can see how either the dark area (left slider) or the light area (right slider) disappears from the image. (Be sure the preview option is turned on.) You will also notice that the edges are very abrupt and jagged.

To avoid the jagged edges, we are going to do two steps. Before we do these two steps, notice that each slider is made up of a left and right side. We will make use of this in the 2nd step.

First, let’s move the left slider towards the middle till the darkest areas are removed. (I went to 97. The number appears above the slider.)

Next, hold down alt (opt on Mac) and carefully click and drag just the right side of the left slider further to the right. This step makes the shades of gray between the halves of the sliders partially transparent, giving us a much softer and realistic edge.

Split slider.

Click OK to close the Layer Style dialog box.

Combined image without a layer mask.

We have our combined image!

To fine tune this image, I added a mask to Layer 1 to remove the portion of the helmet that still shows through and soften the outline of the person that was in the original picture.

Add layer mask.

Combined Image

This technique is very handy when removing backgrounds from images of fireworks or lightning. I have also used it when I want to select clouds out of a sky image.

Have fun with the blending sliders!