Blend modes (or Mixing modes) in digital image editing are used to determine how two layers are blended into each other. The default blend mode in most applications is simply to hide the lower layer with whatever is present in the top layer. However, as each pixel has a numerical representation, a large number of ways to blend two layers is possible. Note that the top layer is not necessarily called a "layer" in the application. It may be applied with a painting or editing tool.
Most applications, like Adobe Photoshop and GIMP, allow the user to modify the basic blend modes - for example by applying different levels of opacity to the top picture.
Read more about Blend Modes: Normal Blend Mode, Dissolve, Multiply and Screen, Dodge and Burn, Boolean Arithmetic Blend Modes, Hue, Saturation and Luminosity
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