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SEB.MA
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
    jane-eCommunity 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

      S
      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

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