Blending Modes Explained in After Effects
In this After Effects tutorial, I’ll break down blending modes in a simple beginner-friendly way and explain the most important ones you’ll actually use in real projects. Instead of memorizing every blending mode, I’ll show you how Screen, Multiply, Overlay, Add, and Soft Light work using easy-to-understand examples and practical effects.
Blending modes are one of the most important tools for VFX, cinematic edits, glows, fire effects, lighting, and compositing — and once you understand them, they become incredibly powerful.
🔥 What You’ll Learn:
What blending modes actually do
How Screen removes black backgrounds
How Multiply darkens footage
How Overlay & Soft Light affect contrast
When to use Add vs Screen
Practical cinematic VFX examples