Question about adjusting light levels / angles

Ok so I was able to narrow down the issue is the template itself, I need to be able to adjust the overlay of the background and also the overlay that appears to be simulating the glass on the picture frame. The template (for what i suspect is protection of the proprietary settings) does not allow me to adjust the overlay completley. Basiclly no matter what I do the image i place in the smart object always appears to be washed out. What is most confusing is how the background layer washes out the colors on my smart object. Why would a background layer change the color of an image in front of it on the layer stack? Also these templates by Raw Pixel are what i suspect to be the problem in that there appears to be a intentional reduction of adjustment so that the template format cannot be re sold. Perhaps I will make my own . I have messed with the slider bar that you pointed out on nearly every overlay setting it simply doesnt do anything compared to the built in un changed effect that the background layer and the object frame layer has to wash out and whiten the smart object layer. These stock images are expensive and that they dont come with adjustability or instructions is silly.