Blend modes in Mail Designer 365 help you combine overlapping images, shapes, and patterns without editing them in a separate graphics app. Use this guide to find the controls, preview each effect, and choose a mode that supports your email design.
What are Blend Modes?
Blend Modes control how the colors and brightness of one image element interact with the layer underneath. With the normal mode, the upper image element covers the lower layer:
You can apply other Blend Modes to change how the two layers combine. This is useful for adding texture, color effects, highlights, and contrast directly in your email design.
How to access Blend Modes in Mail Designer 365
Insert two image elements into an image area. Select the image element you want to modify, then open the Style menu to find the Blend Modes control:
Open the dropdown list and move the pointer over a mode to preview its effect before selecting it. Here are a few examples:
Darken
White is the neutral point. Areas darker than white darken the layer below:
Lighten
Black is the neutral point. Areas brighter than black lighten the layer below:
Pin Light
Pin Light combines Darken and Lighten behavior. Depending on the brightness of the upper layer, darker or lighter pixels replace parts of the layer below:
Overlay
Pixels darker than 50% gray darken the lower layer, while brighter pixels lighten it. The result increases contrast:
Mail Designer 365 includes 24 Blend Modes for layering image elements. You can combine them with effects such as saturation and opacity to create additional looks. Preview the result and check that text remains readable with sufficient color contrast before sending.
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