Clear Mode

This is another blending mode that shows up only in certain areas of Photoshop (like in the painting tools and Edit > Fill command). Clear mode is basically the same as using the Eraser tool, or selecting an area and then pressing Delete (Mac) or Backspace (Windows).

If you'd rather not permanently lower the opacity of an area, then you might want to think about using a Layer Mask instead (see the next chapter for general info on Layer Masks). Clear mode is like putting gray in a Layer Mask. Filling with 40% opacity in Clear mode is the same as filling part of a Layer Mask with 40% gray. The Lock Transparency icon at the top of the Layers palette prevents you from changing how transparent an area is. When that check box is turned on, the Behind and Clear modes will be grayed out.

I generally use this mode to lower the opacity of a large area. Choosing Edit > Fill in Clear mode at 40% opacity, for example, reduces the opacity of the layer by 40%, leaving it 60% opaque (Figures 13.8 and 13.9).

When you use Clear mode, Photoshop will completely ignore the color you are attempting to fill or paint with. It only pays attention to the Opacity setting and uses the paint or selection that is active to determine which areas should be deleted.

You'll find Clear mode in only a few areas of Photoshop, including the Line tool (using the Fill setting on the far left of the options bar), the Paint Bucket tool, the Brush tool, the Pencil tool, the Fill command, and the Stroke command.