How to Use Video Overlays + Over 250 FREE Elements

Download nearly 300 free video overlays and assets and learn how to use them in your favorite editing app.

There is a common tool you will find in nearly every major photo and video app. The ability to use blend modes to composite images. In this video I will show you how to find the blend modes in Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve so you can use these hundreds of free video overlays and effects.

What are Blend Modes?

Blend modes allow users to blend digital images or footage together to create different effects. They are best known from their implementation in the early versions of Photoshop. Nearly all major design apps and programs feature some, if not all, of the blend modes you would find in Photoshop.

Adobe divides blend modes into six main categories: Normal, Subtractive, Additive, Complex, Difference, and HSL. Each category uses a set of parameters to effect how pixels mix when blended together.

For video overlays, the additive category is most used. Especially the Screen and Linear Dodge (Add) modes. These blend modes mainly work in the same way of mixing projected light. Meaning the blacks are removed as more light is added. In the case of video overlays, that means things like dust, fog, or snow elements will be visible, but the dark background will be removed.

All of the available Blend Modes (by category):

Normal
Dissolve

Darken
Multiply
Color Burn
Linear Burn
Darker Color

Linear Dodge (Add)
Lighten
Screen
Color Dodge
Linear Dodge (Add)
Lighter Color

Overlay
Soft Light
Hard Light
Vivid Light
Linear Light
Pin Light
Hard Mix

Difference
Exclusion
Subtract
Divide

Hue
Saturation
Color
Luminosity

Premiere Pro Blend Modes

How to Use Video Overlays in Premiere Pro

To find the blend modes in Premiere Pro, you first need to select the clip you want to apply the blend mode to. Once selected, open the Effects Controls and navigate to Opacity.

There you will find a dropdown with all the listed blend modes. For traditional video overlay effects, select the “Screen” blend mode to make the black pixels transparent.

Final Cut Pro Blend Modes

How to Use Video Overlays in Final Cut Pro

In Final Cut Pro X, in your timeline select the clip you want to apply the blend mode to. Once selected, navigate to the Inspector and find the Compositing section.

There you will find a dropdown with all the listed blend modes. For traditional video overlay effects, select the “Screen” blend mode to make the black pixels transparent.

DaVinci Resolve Blend Modes

How to Use Video Overlays in DaVinci Resolve

For Davinci Resolve editors, select the clip you want to apply the blend mode to in the timeline. Once selected, navigate to the Video Settings controls and scroll down to the Composite section.

There you will find a dropdown menu with all the listed blend modes. For traditional video overlay effects, select the “Screen” blend mode to make the black pixels transparent.

Download 250+ Free Video Elements

This is an ongoing mega-list of all the video overlays and VFX assets Todd and I have made over the years. Some are traditional video overlays like dust, fog, and light leaks. Then there is a collection of action movie related hits, sparks, and bangs. Finally you’ll find abstract assets like bokeh and liquid space textures.

Video Overlays