Overlay (blend mode)
Overlay combines Multiply and Screen in one: dark areas get darker, light areas lighter, which raises contrast. Neutral grey (50%) becomes invisible. It is a versatile mode for contrast, color and dodge & burn.
Set a layer to Overlay to add punch to your image in one move. The trick is that 50% grey disappears, so you can paint on a grey layer with black and white to burn and dodge precisely. It is also ideal for laying a color layer over the top for a subtle color cast. Tip: lower the opacity, Overlay overdoes it fast.
Related terms
Prefer a look in one click?
The presets on this site set these adjustments up for you as a starting point, which you then fine-tune to taste.