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Participant
July 15, 2025
Answered

Which Key Toggles Brush Blendmodes From Normal to Clear?

  • July 15, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 232 views

This issue happened for multiple times. 
Sometimes, while I was drawing, which I was using a brush tool. 
Then, when I discovered the brush I'm using is erasing my work, I suddenly realize the brush blendmode has become 'Clear'. 
I was using zooming(Z) and rotation (R) temporarily while using the brush as the main tool. 
I don't know which key I was accidentally pressing that altered the blendmode.
Anyone kind enough to dig into this topic? 
I guess it would be cool to find out, some would prefer this key as a shorthand tool between brush and eraser, I would prefer disabling it.

Correct answer jane-e

Thank you @SEB.MA , I've moved your post to the Photoshop forum.

 

Clear is Option + Shift + R

Normal is Option + Shift + N

 

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/default-keyboard-shortcuts.html 

 

Result

Windows

macOS

Cycle through blending modes

Shift + + (plus) or – (minus)

Shift + + (plus) or – (minus)

Normal

Shift + Alt + N

Shift + Option + N

Dissolve

Shift + Alt + I

Shift + Option + I

Behind (Brush tool only)

Shift + Alt + Q

Shift + Option + Q

Clear (Brush tool only)

Shift + Alt + R

Shift + Option + R

Darken

Shift + Alt + K

Shift + Option + K

Multiply

Shift + Alt + M

Shift + Option + M

Color Burn

Shift + Alt + B

Shift + Option + B

Linear Burn

Shift + Alt + A

Shift + Option + A

Lighten

Shift + Alt + G

Shift + Option + G

Screen

Shift + Alt + S

Shift + Option + S

Color Dodge

Shift + Alt + D

Shift + Option + D

Linear Dodge

Shift + Alt + W

Shift + Option + W

Overlay

Shift + Alt + O

Shift + Option + O

Soft Light

Shift + Alt + F

Shift + Option + F

Hard Light

Shift + Alt + H

Shift + Option + H

Vivid Light

Shift + Alt + V

Shift + Option + V

Linear Light

Shift + Alt + J

Shift + Option + J

Pin Light

Shift + Alt + Z

Shift + Option + Z

Hard Mix

Shift + Alt + L

Shift + Option + L

Difference

Shift + Alt + E

Shift + Option + E

Exclusion

Shift + Alt + X

Shift + Option + X

Hue

Shift + Alt + U

Shift + Option + U

Saturation

Shift + Alt + T

Shift + Option + T

Color

Shift + Alt + C

Shift + Option + C

Luminosity

Shift + Alt + Y

Shift + Option + Y

Desaturate

Sponge tool + Shift + Alt + D

Sponge tool + Shift + Option + D

Saturate

Sponge tool + Shift + Alt + S

Sponge tool + Shift + Option + S

Dodge/burn shadows

Dodge tool/Burn tool + Shift + Alt + S

Dodge tool/Burn tool + Shift + Option + S

Dodge/burn midtones

Dodge tool/Burn tool + Shift + Alt + M

Dodge tool/Burn tool + Shift + Option + M

Dodge/burn highlights

Dodge tool/Burn tool + Shift + Alt + H

Dodge tool/Burn tool + Shift + Option + H

Set blending mode to Threshold for bitmap images, Normal for all other images

Shift + Alt + N

Shift + Option + N

 

Jane

1 reply

jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 15, 2025

@SEB.MA 

 

Please tell us which Adobe application you are using, and we will be happy to move your post to the appropriate forum.

 

Jane

SEB.MAAuthor
Participant
July 17, 2025

Thanks, it's Photoshop, version 2021

jane-e
Community Expert
jane-eCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
July 17, 2025

Thank you @SEB.MA , I've moved your post to the Photoshop forum.

 

Clear is Option + Shift + R

Normal is Option + Shift + N

 

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/default-keyboard-shortcuts.html 

 

Result

Windows

macOS

Cycle through blending modes

Shift + + (plus) or – (minus)

Shift + + (plus) or – (minus)

Normal

Shift + Alt + N

Shift + Option + N

Dissolve

Shift + Alt + I

Shift + Option + I

Behind (Brush tool only)

Shift + Alt + Q

Shift + Option + Q

Clear (Brush tool only)

Shift + Alt + R

Shift + Option + R

Darken

Shift + Alt + K

Shift + Option + K

Multiply

Shift + Alt + M

Shift + Option + M

Color Burn

Shift + Alt + B

Shift + Option + B

Linear Burn

Shift + Alt + A

Shift + Option + A

Lighten

Shift + Alt + G

Shift + Option + G

Screen

Shift + Alt + S

Shift + Option + S

Color Dodge

Shift + Alt + D

Shift + Option + D

Linear Dodge

Shift + Alt + W

Shift + Option + W

Overlay

Shift + Alt + O

Shift + Option + O

Soft Light

Shift + Alt + F

Shift + Option + F

Hard Light

Shift + Alt + H

Shift + Option + H

Vivid Light

Shift + Alt + V

Shift + Option + V

Linear Light

Shift + Alt + J

Shift + Option + J

Pin Light

Shift + Alt + Z

Shift + Option + Z

Hard Mix

Shift + Alt + L

Shift + Option + L

Difference

Shift + Alt + E

Shift + Option + E

Exclusion

Shift + Alt + X

Shift + Option + X

Hue

Shift + Alt + U

Shift + Option + U

Saturation

Shift + Alt + T

Shift + Option + T

Color

Shift + Alt + C

Shift + Option + C

Luminosity

Shift + Alt + Y

Shift + Option + Y

Desaturate

Sponge tool + Shift + Alt + D

Sponge tool + Shift + Option + D

Saturate

Sponge tool + Shift + Alt + S

Sponge tool + Shift + Option + S

Dodge/burn shadows

Dodge tool/Burn tool + Shift + Alt + S

Dodge tool/Burn tool + Shift + Option + S

Dodge/burn midtones

Dodge tool/Burn tool + Shift + Alt + M

Dodge tool/Burn tool + Shift + Option + M

Dodge/burn highlights

Dodge tool/Burn tool + Shift + Alt + H

Dodge tool/Burn tool + Shift + Option + H

Set blending mode to Threshold for bitmap images, Normal for all other images

Shift + Alt + N

Shift + Option + N

 

Jane