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How to blend two photos and compare the result on Mac

Layer a portrait with another photo, choose Screen blending, adjust opacity, then compare the original and blended result in Blend Images on Mac.

7 stepsUpdated Nov 12, 2026Get Blend Images
What you'll achieve
A two-photo composite using Screen mode and 85% Texture Opacity, displayed in Split view for an original-versus-blended comparison.
What you need
  • Blend Images 5.0 or later on a Mac.
  • Two photos: one main image and one overlay, or the app's built-in example for practice.
Blend Images split comparison: original portrait on the left and the forest-blended portrait on the right.

Blend Images combines one primary photo with one overlay. Follow the built-in portrait-and-forest example to see how the two sources work together, set the blend controls, and inspect the result. You can use your own images for the same steps.

  1. 1.Open the sample blend

    Use the sparkle-and-photos shortcut in the upper-left toolbar to open the example. It begins with a portrait and a forest overlay in one editable composite.

    Blend Images example with a portrait and forest overlay, selection handles and the Blend controls.
    Blend Images example with a portrait and forest overlay, selection handles and the Blend controls.
  2. 2.Load the main photo

    Use the primary-photo opening action to choose your main image. In this example, the portrait becomes the primary photo; the canvas shows it on its own before the overlay is added again.

    Primary portrait photo visible by itself before the overlay is added.
    Primary portrait photo visible by itself before the overlay is added.
  3. 3.Add the second photo

    Use Load texture in the inspector to add the second photograph as an overlay. The example uses forest sunlight, and the blended result appears across the portrait.

    Portrait mixed with a forest overlay, with texture settings visible.
    Portrait mixed with a forest overlay, with texture settings visible.
  4. 4.Choose Screen blend mode

    In the right inspector, find Blend and set Mode to Screen. This mode emphasizes brighter areas of the overlay. The sample already uses Screen, so choosing it again confirms the current setting.

    Composite portrait with Blend Mode set to Screen in the inspector.
    Composite portrait with Blend Mode set to Screen in the inspector.
  5. 5.Set the overlay strength

    Under Blend, set Texture Opacity to 85%. This controls how strongly the forest overlay appears. The sample already starts at 85%, so the preview may remain unchanged.

    Composite portrait with Texture Opacity set to 85 percent in the inspector.
    Composite portrait with Texture Opacity set to 85 percent in the inspector.
  6. 6.View the finished blend

    Click Preview in the left tool rail to hide selection handles and inspect the blended pixels without the editing outline.

    Clean preview of the blended portrait and forest, without selection handles.
    Clean preview of the blended portrait and forest, without selection handles.
  7. 7.Compare before and after

    Click Split in the left tool rail. The left side shows the original portrait and the right side shows the blended image, so you can compare them before saving.

    Split view showing the original portrait on the left and the blended forest portrait on the right.
    Split view showing the original portrait on the left and the blended forest portrait on the right.

Tips

  • Try other settings under Mode to explore how the two photos combine.

  • Use Texture Opacity to adjust the overlay strength without replacing either source photo.

  • Switch between Preview and Split to evaluate the composite before saving.

  • Watch outBlend Images combines one primary photo and one overlay in each composite; it does not provide an unlimited layer stack.

  • Watch outThe built-in example already uses Screen mode and 85% opacity, so selecting these same values may not visibly change it.