Photo overlay online
Lay textures, light leaks, bokeh or your own image over a photo and blend it in.
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Layer textures and light over a photo
An overlay is a second image placed on top of your photo and mixed with it. A warm light leak makes a summer picture glow, bokeh adds soft dots of light, dust and scratches age a photo, falling snow or rain changes the weather, and a paper texture makes a picture look printed. The overlay does not cover the photo like a sticker; it blends in according to the blend mode you choose.
The Overlays panel has 18 textures drawn by the editor itself: warm, pink and golden light leaks, film burn, bokeh, dust, scratches, paper, fades from the top or bottom, sunset glow, lens flare, rain, snow, prism, haze, sparkles and confetti. Shuffle gives a new random variation of the same texture. You can also add any image of your own as a second overlay, with its own blend mode and opacity.
How to add an overlay to a photo
Open your photo
This is the base image; the overlay goes on top of it.
Choose a texture
Tap an overlay in the panel, or add your own image as a layer.
Pick a blend mode
Try Screen first for light effects and Multiply for dark textures.
Set the opacity and export
Lower the opacity until the effect feels natural, then save.
Blend modes explained
| Mode | What happens | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | Only the light parts of the overlay show; black disappears | Light leaks, bokeh, flares, snow |
| Multiply | Only the dark parts show; white disappears | Dust, scratches, paper grain, shadows |
| Overlay | Light parts brighten, dark parts darken, with more contrast | Strong textures and color washes |
| Soft light | Like Overlay, but gentler | Subtle textures and gradient fades on faces |
| Normal | The overlay simply lies on top at the chosen opacity | A second photo or a solid texture |
The same texture can look completely different in two modes, so switching modes is often more useful than switching textures.
Ideas that work well on Instagram
- Golden hour without the sun. An orange light leak in Screen mode at low opacity, from one corner.
- Winter story. Snow in Screen mode over a cold-toned photo, with a cool filter.
- Old print. Paper texture in Multiply plus dust and a little sepia from photo effects.
- Your own texture. A photo of fabric, concrete or a light leak from your camera works as an overlay too. Your image is stretched to cover the whole photo, so a full-frame texture works better than a small logo.
- Two photos in one. Add a second photo in Screen or Soft light for a double exposure.
Overlay questions
What is the difference between an overlay and a sticker?
A sticker sits on top of the photo and covers it. An overlay is blended with the photo, so the picture shows through. For stickers and shapes, use add clipart.
Can I use my own overlay images?
Yes. Add any image file as an overlay layer. Make sure you have the right to use it, especially for downloaded texture packs.
Why does the overlay make my photo too bright?
Screen mode only ever brightens. Lower the opacity, choose a darker texture, or switch to Soft light.
Is my own overlay image uploaded anywhere?
No. Your photo and the overlay image are both combined by your browser on your device.
Borders and stickers
For borders, use photo frames. Overlays, frames and stickers are all part of the same editor, which is described under photo editor tools.