To blend photos in Procreate, insert each photo as its own layer, then combine them with a blend mode (Multiply, Screen, Overlay, or Soft Light) and the opacity slider. For soft, controlled transitions, add a layer mask to the top photo and paint it away with a soft brush. Finish by matching color and contrast with Adjustments so the photos read as one image.

The Quick Version

1. Create a canvas and insert your first photo (Actions > Add > Insert a photo).
2. Insert the second photo. Procreate places it on its own layer.
3. Tap the N next to the top layer to open the blend mode menu and scroll through the modes to preview them.
4. Lower opacity until the interaction looks right.
5. Add a layer mask and paint with black (hide) or white (reveal) to control where the photos merge.
6. Match tone and color with Curves, Color Balance, or Hue/Saturation/Brightness.

The rest of this guide covers why each step matters and where Procreate's approach differs from compositing in a node or layer-based video tool.

Step 1: Import Photos as Separate Layers

Open the Actions menu (wrench icon), choose Add, then Insert a photo. Each photo arrives as a free-floating layer with the Transform tool active, so you can scale and position it immediately.

A few habits make the later steps easier:

• Size your canvas first. If you plan to stack many photos, set the canvas to the final output resolution rather than something huge.
• Keep originals intact. Duplicate a layer before applying destructive edits like Liquify or Gaussian Blur, then hide the copy.
• Name and group layers. Swipe right on layers to select several, then group them. Once you have a base, a texture, and a few overlays, groups keep the stack readable.

If a photo has a subject you want to isolate, cut it out with the Selection tool (Automatic or Freehand) and copy it to a new layer. You can also use a mask later, which is more flexible.

Step 2: Use Blend Modes to Combine Photos

Blend modes decide how pixels on the top layer interact with the pixels beneath. In the Layers panel, tap the letter on the right of a layer (N for Normal) to open the menu. Scrolling through the list applies each mode live, so you can audition them quickly.

The modes you will reach for most often when mixing photos:

• Multiply darkens by multiplying the layer's values with what's below. White disappears and darker areas build up. It suits shadows, texture overlays like paper or grain, and placing a scan or silhouette over a lighter photo.
• Screen is the inverse. Black disappears and lighter areas add up. It works for light leaks, glows, fog, smoke, sparks, and lens flares shot against black.
• Overlay increases contrast by combining Multiply and Screen behavior depending on the base tones. It is a good way to push a texture or a second photo's color into the base without flattening it.
• Soft Light is a gentler Overlay. Use it when Overlay is too punchy.
• Color applies the hue and saturation of the top layer while keeping the luminance below. It is useful for toning or recoloring a photo using another image as the palette.
• Luminosity does the opposite, transferring brightness while keeping the base colors.
• Difference is rarely an aesthetic choice, but it helps you check alignment between two similar photos.

Procreate also includes Color Burn, Linear Burn, and others.

Pair blend modes with opacity

Opacity doesn't just fade a layer. In non-Normal modes it also changes how strongly the effect applies. Move the slider in the blend mode menu, or use the shortcut: two-finger tap a layer, then slide left or right on the canvas.

A practical approach is to pick the mode that looks closest to what you want at 100%, then back the opacity down to 40–70% rather than hunting for a perfect mode.

Step 3: Use Layer Masks for Controlled Blending

Blend modes affect the whole layer. When you want one photo to dissolve into another in a specific region, use a mask.

1. Tap the layer, then choose Mask. A white mask thumbnail appears.
2. Select the mask thumbnail so it's active.
3. Choose a soft brush (the Airbrush set works well) and paint with black to hide parts of the layer or white to reveal them.
4. Vary brush opacity and size to build a gradual transition.

Because masks are non-destructive, you can switch colors and repaint endlessly without erasing pixels.

Gradient fades

For a clean horizontal or vertical fade, fill the mask with a gradient instead of brushing by hand. Use the Gradient tool, or a large soft brush and a single long stroke, then refine with a smaller brush. Blurring the mask with Gaussian Blur (with the mask selected) softens a hard edge you painted too aggressively.

Clipping masks

If you want a texture or color layer to affect only one photo, place it above that photo and choose Clipping Mask in the layer options. The upper layer will only show where the layer below has pixels. This is how you tint a single subject without touching the background.

Step 4: Match Color, Light, and Grain

Most photo blends look wrong because the sources don't share light or color, not because the blend is wrong. Procreate's Adjustments menu (magic wand icon) lets you fix that on a per-layer basis:

• Curves to match black and white points and contrast.
• Color Balance to push shadows, midtones, and highlights toward a shared palette.
• Hue, Saturation, Brightness for quick corrections.
• Gaussian Blur or Motion Blur to match depth of field and softness. A sharp cutout over a soft background is a common giveaway.
• Noise to add grain on the top layer so it matches the base's texture.

Apply adjustments to a single layer, or place them on a new layer above a group so you can keep them separate from the pixel edits. Check your edits at 100% zoom as well as zoomed out.

Step 5: Add Finishing Touches

Once the photos sit together, push the image toward one coherent look:

• Add a new layer on top, fill it with a warm or cool color, set it to Soft Light or Color, and lower the opacity. This acts like a unified grade.
• Paint shadows on a Multiply layer beneath your cutout subject to ground it.
• Paint highlights on a Screen or Add layer where light would logically hit.
• Use Liquify sparingly to correct edges or reshape forms.

Common Problems and Fixes

The blend looks muddy. Your layers likely have competing midtones. Try Soft Light instead of Overlay, or lower contrast on the top layer with Curves before blending.

Edges look cut out. Feather the mask edge, add a subtle shadow on a Multiply layer, and match blur and grain.

Colors shift after export. Check the canvas color profile when you create the document, and export in a format that fits your destination. If heavy gradients show banding, adding a small amount of noise can help.

The layer stack gets unwieldy. Merge finished groups or duplicate the canvas to work in sections.

From Procreate to a Motion Pipeline

Many motion designers use Procreate for quick blended style frames or textures before bringing the result into After Effects, Premiere Pro, Cinema 4D, Blender, or Nuke. A few notes for that handoff:

• Export layered when you need to rebuild. If you export layers, always verify the result in After Effects. Blend modes can map imperfectly between applications, and masks may need rechecking.
• Expect differences between applications. The same blend mode can behave differently in another compositing workflow, so don't be surprised if a rebuilt comp needs retuning.
• Export elements, not just the flattened image. Separate PNGs of the subject, the shadow layer, and the texture give you parallax or per-element animation options.
• Use Procreate for look development. Treat the blended image as a style frame or reference, then recreate or extend it with tools designed for motion.

Where Styleframe Fits After the Blend

A blended Procreate image is a strong starting point for animation, but it is still a still. If you want to turn it into motion without giving up art direction, Styleframe is one option to explore. Your compositing, color, and finishing can stay where they are.

FAQ

Can I blend two photos in Procreate without losing quality? Yes. Work at the final resolution, use masks rather than erasing, and keep originals on hidden layers.

What is the best blend mode for combining two photos? There isn't one. Multiply and Screen handle dark and light combinations, Overlay and Soft Light add contrast and tone, and Color transfers palette. Test them live in the menu.

How do I make a smooth fade between two photos? Add a mask to the top photo and use a gradient or a large soft brush, then refine with smaller strokes.

Can I use Procreate blends in After Effects? Export your layers, then check the results carefully. If something doesn't match, rebuild the blend with After Effects' own modes and masks.

To blend photos in Procreate, insert each photo as its own layer, then combine them with a blend mode (Multiply, Screen, Overlay, or Soft Light) and the opacity slider. For soft, controlled transitions, add a layer mask to the top photo and paint it away with a soft brush. Finish by matching color and contrast with Adjustments so the photos read as one image.

The Quick Version

1. Create a canvas and insert your first photo (Actions > Add > Insert a photo).
2. Insert the second photo. Procreate places it on its own layer.
3. Tap the N next to the top layer to open the blend mode menu and scroll through the modes to preview them.
4. Lower opacity until the interaction looks right.
5. Add a layer mask and paint with black (hide) or white (reveal) to control where the photos merge.
6. Match tone and color with Curves, Color Balance, or Hue/Saturation/Brightness.

The rest of this guide covers why each step matters and where Procreate's approach differs from compositing in a node or layer-based video tool.

Step 1: Import Photos as Separate Layers

Open the Actions menu (wrench icon), choose Add, then Insert a photo. Each photo arrives as a free-floating layer with the Transform tool active, so you can scale and position it immediately.

A few habits make the later steps easier:

• Size your canvas first. If you plan to stack many photos, set the canvas to the final output resolution rather than something huge.
• Keep originals intact. Duplicate a layer before applying destructive edits like Liquify or Gaussian Blur, then hide the copy.
• Name and group layers. Swipe right on layers to select several, then group them. Once you have a base, a texture, and a few overlays, groups keep the stack readable.

If a photo has a subject you want to isolate, cut it out with the Selection tool (Automatic or Freehand) and copy it to a new layer. You can also use a mask later, which is more flexible.

Step 2: Use Blend Modes to Combine Photos

Blend modes decide how pixels on the top layer interact with the pixels beneath. In the Layers panel, tap the letter on the right of a layer (N for Normal) to open the menu. Scrolling through the list applies each mode live, so you can audition them quickly.

The modes you will reach for most often when mixing photos:

• Multiply darkens by multiplying the layer's values with what's below. White disappears and darker areas build up. It suits shadows, texture overlays like paper or grain, and placing a scan or silhouette over a lighter photo.
• Screen is the inverse. Black disappears and lighter areas add up. It works for light leaks, glows, fog, smoke, sparks, and lens flares shot against black.
• Overlay increases contrast by combining Multiply and Screen behavior depending on the base tones. It is a good way to push a texture or a second photo's color into the base without flattening it.
• Soft Light is a gentler Overlay. Use it when Overlay is too punchy.
• Color applies the hue and saturation of the top layer while keeping the luminance below. It is useful for toning or recoloring a photo using another image as the palette.
• Luminosity does the opposite, transferring brightness while keeping the base colors.
• Difference is rarely an aesthetic choice, but it helps you check alignment between two similar photos.

Procreate also includes Color Burn, Linear Burn, and others.

Pair blend modes with opacity

Opacity doesn't just fade a layer. In non-Normal modes it also changes how strongly the effect applies. Move the slider in the blend mode menu, or use the shortcut: two-finger tap a layer, then slide left or right on the canvas.

A practical approach is to pick the mode that looks closest to what you want at 100%, then back the opacity down to 40–70% rather than hunting for a perfect mode.

Step 3: Use Layer Masks for Controlled Blending

Blend modes affect the whole layer. When you want one photo to dissolve into another in a specific region, use a mask.

1. Tap the layer, then choose Mask. A white mask thumbnail appears.
2. Select the mask thumbnail so it's active.
3. Choose a soft brush (the Airbrush set works well) and paint with black to hide parts of the layer or white to reveal them.
4. Vary brush opacity and size to build a gradual transition.

Because masks are non-destructive, you can switch colors and repaint endlessly without erasing pixels.

Gradient fades

For a clean horizontal or vertical fade, fill the mask with a gradient instead of brushing by hand. Use the Gradient tool, or a large soft brush and a single long stroke, then refine with a smaller brush. Blurring the mask with Gaussian Blur (with the mask selected) softens a hard edge you painted too aggressively.

Clipping masks

If you want a texture or color layer to affect only one photo, place it above that photo and choose Clipping Mask in the layer options. The upper layer will only show where the layer below has pixels. This is how you tint a single subject without touching the background.

Step 4: Match Color, Light, and Grain

Most photo blends look wrong because the sources don't share light or color, not because the blend is wrong. Procreate's Adjustments menu (magic wand icon) lets you fix that on a per-layer basis:

• Curves to match black and white points and contrast.
• Color Balance to push shadows, midtones, and highlights toward a shared palette.
• Hue, Saturation, Brightness for quick corrections.
• Gaussian Blur or Motion Blur to match depth of field and softness. A sharp cutout over a soft background is a common giveaway.
• Noise to add grain on the top layer so it matches the base's texture.

Apply adjustments to a single layer, or place them on a new layer above a group so you can keep them separate from the pixel edits. Check your edits at 100% zoom as well as zoomed out.

Step 5: Add Finishing Touches

Once the photos sit together, push the image toward one coherent look:

• Add a new layer on top, fill it with a warm or cool color, set it to Soft Light or Color, and lower the opacity. This acts like a unified grade.
• Paint shadows on a Multiply layer beneath your cutout subject to ground it.
• Paint highlights on a Screen or Add layer where light would logically hit.
• Use Liquify sparingly to correct edges or reshape forms.

Common Problems and Fixes

The blend looks muddy. Your layers likely have competing midtones. Try Soft Light instead of Overlay, or lower contrast on the top layer with Curves before blending.

Edges look cut out. Feather the mask edge, add a subtle shadow on a Multiply layer, and match blur and grain.

Colors shift after export. Check the canvas color profile when you create the document, and export in a format that fits your destination. If heavy gradients show banding, adding a small amount of noise can help.

The layer stack gets unwieldy. Merge finished groups or duplicate the canvas to work in sections.

From Procreate to a Motion Pipeline

Many motion designers use Procreate for quick blended style frames or textures before bringing the result into After Effects, Premiere Pro, Cinema 4D, Blender, or Nuke. A few notes for that handoff:

• Export layered when you need to rebuild. If you export layers, always verify the result in After Effects. Blend modes can map imperfectly between applications, and masks may need rechecking.
• Expect differences between applications. The same blend mode can behave differently in another compositing workflow, so don't be surprised if a rebuilt comp needs retuning.
• Export elements, not just the flattened image. Separate PNGs of the subject, the shadow layer, and the texture give you parallax or per-element animation options.
• Use Procreate for look development. Treat the blended image as a style frame or reference, then recreate or extend it with tools designed for motion.

Where Styleframe Fits After the Blend

A blended Procreate image is a strong starting point for animation, but it is still a still. If you want to turn it into motion without giving up art direction, Styleframe is one option to explore. Your compositing, color, and finishing can stay where they are.

FAQ

Can I blend two photos in Procreate without losing quality? Yes. Work at the final resolution, use masks rather than erasing, and keep originals on hidden layers.

What is the best blend mode for combining two photos? There isn't one. Multiply and Screen handle dark and light combinations, Overlay and Soft Light add contrast and tone, and Color transfers palette. Test them live in the menu.

How do I make a smooth fade between two photos? Add a mask to the top photo and use a gradient or a large soft brush, then refine with smaller strokes.

Can I use Procreate blends in After Effects? Export your layers, then check the results carefully. If something doesn't match, rebuild the blend with After Effects' own modes and masks.