CSS background-blend-mode
Returns a new blended color based on the background color and the background images.
Syntax
background-blend-mode: <value>;
where <value> can be one of the following: normal | multiply | screen | overlay | darken | lighten | color-dodge | color-burn | hard-light | soft-light | difference | exclusion | hue | saturation | color | luminosity
normalis the default value which imposes simple alpha blending, as CSS has permitted since its inception.lightenmeans that the final result will show, at each pixel, either the image or its backdrop, whichever is lighter.darkenwill show, at each pixel, whichever is darker.
Example 1
The background color will not bleed through the background image:
body {background-image: url('fish.jpg');background-color: blue;background-blend-mode: normal;}
The following image demonstrates the code block above:

Example 2
At each pixel, show whichever is lighter between the background image and the background color:
body {background-image: url('fish.jpg');background-color: blue;background-blend-mode: lighten;}
The following image demonstrates the code block above:

Example 3
At each pixel, show whichever is darker between the background image and the background color:
body {background-image: url('fish.jpg');background-color: blue;background-blend-mode: darken;}
The following image demonstrates the code block above:

Contribute to Docs
- Learn more about how to get involved.
- Edit this page on GitHub to fix an error or make an improvement.
- Submit feedback to let us know how we can improve Docs.
Learn CSS on Codecademy
- Front-end engineers work closely with designers to make websites beautiful, functional, and fast.
- Includes 34 Courses
- With Professional Certification
- Beginner Friendly.115 hours
- A full-stack engineer can get a project done from start to finish, back-end to front-end.
- Includes 51 Courses
- With Professional Certification
- Beginner Friendly.150 hours