Difference between Brush Blending modes and Layer Blending Modes

[T.Ta]

Hi all,

I apoligise in advance if this has been asked, or mentioned in another post but I can't find it.

I'm still quite new to digital painting and I use photoshop CS5, and my question is: What is the difference, if any, between the brush blending modes and the layer blending modes?

For example, would there be different interactions/outcomes if you used a [Normal Mode] Brush on a [Multiply] Layer than a [Multiply] Brush on a [Normal] layer?

I understand some layer blending modes interact with layers underneath it, but would that same mode for the brush interact the same way?? Sorry if my question is a bit odd, or unclear, but I hope someone can help me with this.

I've tried finding out on the net but all I get is pages that describe what each blending mode does.

Thanks! =)

[ikken]

Brush in overlay (multiply/whatever else) mode works directly with existing pixels, so any extra strokes will deepen its effect;
when you paint with a brush in default mode on a overlay (multiply/whatever else) layer, it does not affect pixels below and there's a certain threshold for its effect on underlying material.
I can't come up with a more clear explanation, but basically - yes, you will get different result from those two
from my experience, when you're doing rough colour blocking, it's better to use layers since they're non-destructive to your original work;
when you're adding finishing touches (like colour dodged highlights) it's better to flatten your image and paint stuff in directly.

(There's also another option, painting with various brush modes on a transparent normal layer, but it has never done anything good for me, so I don't use it at all)

[T.Ta]

Thanks for that ikken! That was a pretty good explanation and it helped me out greatly. I just need more practice to in order to know exactly when I need to do what.


If anyone else has an input on this, I would gladly appreciate it. You can never have too much knowledge

[Yahya]

Brush in overlay (multiply/whatever else) mode works directly with existing pixels, so any extra strokes will deepen its effect;
when you paint with a brush in default mode on a overlay (multiply/whatever else) layer, it does not affect pixels below and there's a certain threshold for its effect on underlying material.
I can't come up with a more clear explanation, but basically - yes, you will get different result from those two
from my experience, when you're doing rough colour blocking, it's better to use layers since they're non-destructive to your original work;
when you're adding finishing touches (like colour dodged highlights) it's better to flatten your image and paint stuff in directly.

(There's also another option, painting with various brush modes on a transparent normal layer, but it has never done anything good for me, so I don't use it at all)

Correct