CSS Blend Modes

1. What are Blend Modes?

Blend modes define how a source image (or color) blends with a backdrop image (or color). The CSS property mix-blend-mode is used to apply these effects.

2. Basic Usage of mix-blend-mode

The mix-blend-mode property can take several values, each producing different blending effects.

selector {
    mix-blend-mode: mode;
}

Replace mode with one of the blending modes like multiply, screen, overlay, etc.

3. Common Blend Modes

• normal: The default value; no blending.
• multiply: Multiplies the base color by the blend color, resulting in a darker color.
• screen: The opposite of multiply; it brightens the colors.
• overlay: Combines multiply and screen; darker areas become darker, and lighter areas become lighter.
• darken: Keeps the darkest colors in the overlap.
• lighten: Keeps the lightest colors in the overlap.

4. Example of Blend Modes

Here’s a simple example to illustrate the use of blend modes:

Edit Copy

<div class="container">
    <img src="image1.jpg" alt="Image 1" class="image1">
    <img src="image2.jpg" alt="Image 2" class="image2">
</div>

<style>
.container {
    position: relative;
}

.image1 {
    mix-blend-mode: multiply;
}

.image2 {
    mix-blend-mode: screen;
}
</style>

5. Browser Support

CSS blend modes are supported in most modern browsers. However, it's essential to check compatibility if you're targeting older versions.

6. Conclusion

CSS blend modes provide powerful tools for creating dynamic visuals on the web. By understanding how to apply and experiment with these modes, you can enhance your designs significantly.