Follow Photoshop tutorials without Photoshop: layers, masks and blend modes
You do not need a monthly subscription to practice occasional photo edits. PhotoVim's core editing tools are free in your browser. Check the tools a tutorial needs, then try the exercise below: darken a photo while keeping selected areas at their original brightness. This exercise does not use AI or paid credits.
Where are the tutorial's tools in PhotoVim?
| Tool | Where to find it in PhotoVim | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Layers | Image thumbnails and eye icons in the Layers panel | Choose the layer to edit and toggle its eye icon to compare with the original. |
| Blend mode | The blend mode list at the top of the Layers panel | Multiply darkens the image against the layer below. Preview choices with the arrow keys and select with Enter. |
| Opacity | The opacity field in the Layers panel | Lower the value to blend a strong effect with the original. |
| Layer mask | The Add Mask button at the bottom of the Layers panel | Control where an effect appears without erasing the original pixels. |
| Brush | The Brush tool in the toolbar (B) | Select the mask thumbnail, then paint black to hide and white to reveal. |
Steps
- Open the editor and choose a copy of your own photo from File > Open. Select its image layer in the Layers panel.
- Duplicate the layer with Ctrl+J on Windows/Linux or Cmd+J on Mac. Keep the original below and select the upper copy.
- Choose Multiply in the Layers panel's blend mode list and reduce opacity to 30%. The photo becomes darker with a change in contrast. Adjust between 10% and 40% to suit your original.
- With the copy selected, click Add Mask at the bottom of the Layers panel. Select the new mask thumbnail beside the image thumbnail. With no active selection, the new mask starts by revealing the entire layer.
- Choose Brush (B) and set the foreground color to black. Paint on the mask to hide the darkening effect and show the original below. Paint white to reveal the effect again. Toggle the layer's eye icon to compare the result.
- Save a local project file from the File menu to keep the layers and mask. Export a separate PNG or JPG for sharing. To continue later, reopen the project file rather than the flattened image.
Check the tools you need before following a whole tutorial. Photoshop-only plugins, specific brush engines and some smart-object or text effects may produce different results or be unsupported. This is a photo-editing exercise, not a promise of parity with a dedicated drawing app. Browser autosave is for recovery; keep a separate project file.
Questions
Can I follow every Photoshop tutorial exactly?
No. Start with shared tools such as layers, masks and blend modes. Menu names and locations may differ, and a required feature may be unsupported. Keep important PSD originals and check the imported result.
Does core editing require a subscription or AI payment?
The core editing in this guide is free, with no subscription required. Running separate AI features may require credits or an API key from a supported provider, and provider usage charges may apply.