Blending using Pin Light

I need some new Valentine-themed products for a few projects I have in mind, so started browsing through our Valentine’s Day Sale category.  I was really struck by the variety of products that are just waiting for me, and found myself imagining how I would use many of them.  Blend Modes kept popping into my mind.

We’ve talked about Blend Modes before (How to Quickly Change Blend Modes; Blending Modes – Just what are they?); but today I would like to visit the often-overlooked Pin Light Blend Mode.

Blend modes change how two layers interact with each other.  The most commonly used Blend Modes are Multiple, Screen, Overlay, and Soft Light; but Pin Light can work really well on certain products as well.  (Blendables, Transfers, Paints, Overlays, and even Post Cards or Journal Cards, for example.)

Pin Light is included with the Contrast Modes. To access Pin Light (or any of the Blend Modes), click on the down-pointing arrow in the Blend Mode Box at the top of the layers panel; then scroll down to Pin Light.

We’ll start with 2 simple things – a post card (Vintage Valentine Postcards, SnickerdoodleDesigns) and a frame (Vintage Frames 03, ADBDesigns). Let’s put the design from the card on this frame. Here’s how:

Position the post card on the frame; resize the postcard as desired.

Change the blend mode of the postcard to Pin Light.

Just like magic, we now see the design on the frame, and the background of the postcard is not visible.

To personalize the design, I erased (masked away) the “Leap Year 1908” text, and replaced it with the year this photo of my mother was taken.

Let’s  look at another frame, and another postcard. Using the same method, and the same Blend Mode of Pin Light:

Rather than using the entire postcard image,  I like how using just a part of the post card image added additional interest to this frame. Don’t forget you can resize frames to suit your needs;  I resized this frame so that my small photo would fit perfectly. This is a photo of me and my Grandmother.

When experimenting with your own products, be sure to try all Blend Modes.  Depending upon the products you are using, as well as their color, other Modes might work equally well, or better, than Pin Light for you.

Thank you to Diane (ADBDesigns), who is offering her Vintage Frame for you to download and experiment with.  Just click on the image below to download!

If you would like to keep this tutorial on your computer for easy reference, you may download a PDF here: Blending Using Pin Light

Shop our Valentine’s Day Sale to save 50% on Valentine’s products, that will help you create your own special Valentine’s gifts and cards!