I really enjoy getting Cook’s Illustrated magazine because they describe in detail the process of trial and error that goes into creating a recipe. That insight about how ingredients work or don’t work doesn’t just apply to the related dish, but lends knowledge and insight that informs so many other meals I will prepare.
Which is why I was so happy to discover Julieanne Kost’s recent, and ongoing series of blog posts about blend modes in Photoshop. Each blog post addresses an individual group of blend modes as they are logically divided in Photoshop’s interface. Without getting too technical, Julieanne does a great job of giving a quick, clear description of what each blend mode is going to do to your pixels — and follows up with a series of images to demonstrate.
I’ve made extensive use of blend modes in the past, but just like a recent Cook’s Illustrated sugar cookie recipe’s description of what baking soda and baking powder each do for a recipe and how they work together will help me far beyond just cookies, Julieanne’s posts will help me work smarter and explore new options down the road.
Good stuff.
Here’s a link to the first post in the series and you can follow Julieanne on Twitter. Be sure to browse the rest of her blog - it’s full of great tips for Photoshop and Lightroom.