Welcome to TVPaint Community forums !

Thanks Guys. As usual I am totally confused, but I will try pushing some buttons and reading instructions to see what you are talking about.

I tend to use blend modes all the time. I love the unexpected results you get each time you hit the right blend modes. Now, for me there is no real way of knowing which blend mode would be the right one - I just keep changing modes until one speaks to me.
I personally use 'Grain merge' and 'Grain extract'.

At stages in which my eyes become "tired" of the image, or simply too accustomed to what is already drawn, blend modes bring a refreshing twist and allow me to take the work further. And if done with taste, it often results with more intriguing visuals.

malcooning wrote: Now, for me there is no real way of knowing which blend mode would be the right one - I just keep changing modes until one speaks to me.

i have the same and don't like that proces!
because the list is so long this process feels very inefficient and clumsy

maybe grouping them into a couple of categories like these (from the photoshop example link Asaf posted):
basic
darken
lighten
contrast
comparitive
HSL

would allow the process of choosing the right blendmode become a bit more thoughtfull .

yes. I agree.