Skip to content
ArcBrush ArcBrush Docs

Composite

Node icon
Composite

Blends two images together using 18 layer blending modes. The fundamental compositing operation.

Composite blends a landscape photo with a wood-grain texture through a generated left-to-right gradient mask, not either source's own alpha.
A four-panel strip showing the Composite node's inputs and output: a summer mountain-and-river landscape as the base, a close-up warm-brown wood-grain texture as the overlay, a black-to-white generated gradient as the mask, and the final result blending smoothly from the mountain scene into the wood texture.

Composite layers the Overlay input over the Base input with a blend mode and opacity. When the two differ in size, Resize Mode decides whether the overlay stays at its own size (centered), scales to fit, or stretches to match. The output has the base’s dimensions.

Composite blends colors. For coverage operations on alpha (Over, In, Out, Stencil and the rest), use Merge; to stack more than two images, use Layer.

Parameters

Section titled “Parameters”

Pins

BaseImage
InputRequired
OverlayImage
InputRequired
MaskMask
InputOptional
ImageImage
Output

Composite

Blend ModeChoice
Default: Normal

How the overlay's colors blend onto the base.

For coverage (alpha) operators, use the Merge node.

  • NormalStandard layering: the overlay covers the base based on opacity.
  • MultiplyDarkens by multiplying pixel values. White is neutral. Great for shadows and texture overlays.
  • ScreenLightens by inverting, multiplying, and inverting again. Black is neutral. Great for light effects.
  • OverlayCombines Multiply and Screen, darkening darks and lightening lights. Boosts contrast.
  • Linear Dodge (Add)Adds pixel values together. Creates bright, glowing combinations.
  • SubtractSubtracts overlay from base. Creates dark, negative-like effects.
  • DifferenceShows the absolute difference between layers. Identical areas become black.
  • Hard LightStrong version of Overlay, with dramatic contrast enhancement from the overlay layer.
  • Soft LightSubtle version of Overlay that gently increases contrast without harsh clipping.
  • DarkenKeeps the darker pixel from each layer. Useful for combining dark elements.
  • LightenKeeps the lighter pixel from each layer. Useful for combining light elements.
  • Color DodgeBrightens the base toward the overlay color. Creates intense, blown-out highlights.
  • Color BurnDarkens the base toward the overlay color. Creates deep, saturated shadows.
  • ExclusionSimilar to Difference but with less contrast, producing a softer inversion effect.
  • HueTakes the hue from the overlay and keeps the saturation/luminance from the base.
  • SaturationTakes the saturation from the overlay and keeps the hue/luminance from the base.
  • ColorTakes the hue and saturation from the overlay and keeps the luminance from the base.
  • LuminosityTakes the luminance from the overlay and keeps the hue/saturation from the base.
Resize ModeChoice
Default: None

How the overlay is sized when it doesn't match the base

  • NoneNo resizing. Overlay is placed at its original size, centered on the base.
  • FitScale the overlay to fit inside the base dimensions, preserving aspect ratio.
  • StretchStretch the overlay to exactly match the base dimensions.
OpacityNumber
Default: 1.00 Range: 0.00–1.00

Overlay layer opacity (0 = transparent, 1 = fully opaque)

Mask

Mask FromChoice
Default: Luminance
Color image connected to the mask input

How the connected color image is read as a mask

  • LuminanceRead the image's brightness as the mask. The default.
  • AlphaRead the image's transparency as the mask.
  • RedUse the red channel as the mask.
  • GreenUse the green channel as the mask.
  • BlueUse the blue channel as the mask.
Mask FitChoice
Default: None (native size)
Mask connected

How the mask is sized when it doesn't match the image

  • None (native size)Center the mask at its native size, with no resizing. Unmasked regions are unaffected.
  • StretchStretch the mask to exactly match the image dimensions. May distort the mask shape.
  • Fit (letterbox)Scale the mask to fit inside the image, preserving aspect ratio. Letterboxes where needed.
  • Fill (crop)Scale the mask to fill the image, preserving aspect ratio. Crops edges if aspect ratios differ.

Usage Tips

Section titled “Usage Tips”
  • Wire a gradient or noise pattern as the overlay for quick texture effects.
  • Hovering a Blend Mode in the list, or moving through it with the arrow keys, previews that mode on the canvas. Click to apply, click away to revert; the whole interaction is one undo step.
  • Connect a mask to the optional third input to restrict the blend without a separate Mask Apply step.
Section titled “Related Nodes”