Working with CSS Blend Modes for creative design
CSS Blend Modes realizes color fusion between elements through mix-blend-mode and background-blend-mode attributes to enhance visual hierarchy. 1. mix-blend-mode controls the mixing method of elements and the content below; 2. background-blend-mode controls the mixing between multiple background layers; 3. Common modes such as multiply, screen, and overlay can be used for background overlay, text effects and card light and shadow effects; 4. Pay attention to compatibility, performance impact, color control and hierarchical structure issues when using it.
CSS Blend Modes is a tool that makes web design more creative, especially suitable for creating interfaces with rich visual layers and unique styles. They act like a blending mode in Photoshop, allowing elements to "fusion" in different ways rather than simply overwriting or overlaying.

If you want to add some visual impact when doing background layers, card components, or text effects, Blend Modes will be a good choice.

How to use CSS Blend Mode
CSS provides mix-blend-mode
and background-blend-mode
properties to control mixed behavior.
-
mix-blend-mode
: Used to control how an element is mixed with its content below. -
background-blend-mode
: Used to control how multiple background layers of an element are blended.
The basic writing method is as follows:

.element { mix-blend-mode: multiply; }
or:
.background-element { background-image: url(image1.jpg), url(image2.jpg); background-blend-mode: screen; }
Common blend mode types include normal
, multiply
, screen
, overlay
, darken
, lighten
etc. Each mode handles colors differently and has very different effects.
Common usage and design scenarios
Background Image Overlays
When you have an image as the background and want to add a layer of gradient or color mask on it, you can use background-blend-mode
to achieve a soft transition.
For example:
.overlay-box { width: 100%; height: 300px; background-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255, 0, 0, 0.5), rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.5)), url(background.jpg); background-blend-mode: overlay; }
This method is very suitable for the hero area of the website, making the picture more layered while maintaining the text readability.
Text on Backgrounds
Use mix-blend-mode
to allow text to automatically adjust the display effect according to the color of the background below. For example, set the text to white and add mix-blend-mode: difference;
, the text will brighten on a dark background and dark on a light background.
.blend-text { color: white; mix-blend-mode: difference; }
This technique is often used in art pages or title animations, and the visual effect is very eye-catching.
Light and shadow effects in card components
If you are doing a card layout and want it to look more textured, you can use a translucent mask layer with multiply
or screen
mode to simulate shadows or highlights.
For example:
.card { position: relative; } .card::after { content: ''; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; background: radial-gradient(circle at center, rgba(255,255,255,0.4), transparent 70%); mix-blend-mode: multiply; }
This will make the center of the card a bit similar to the spotlight and enhance the sense of interaction.
Notes and FAQs
- Compatibility : Blend modes are generally supported by modern browsers, but may be completely invalid in older browsers such as IE. If the project needs to be compatible with old systems, it is best to have a fallback solution.
- Performance Impact : Overuse of blend mode can cause a rendering burden, especially in a large number of dynamic elements.
- Color control : The effect of blend mode is greatly affected by the colors of the upper and lower layers. It is recommended to try several color combinations during debugging.
- Hierarchy : When using
mix-blend-mode
, it will affect the way the element and all its child elements are mixed with the content behind it. Pay attention to check whether it affects other parts.
Basically that's it. CSS Blend Modes are not complicated but easy to ignore. After mastering several common modes, you can add many highlights to your daily design.
The above is the detailed content of Working with CSS Blend Modes for creative design. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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