Thank you! This made me think of a couple of ways I can improve my process. I'll be sure to try them out. I also felt inspired to contribute : An alternative way to select the actual color on a layer with blending mode is to change the sample mode of the color picker tool. The tool needs to have the Sample option to "Current Layer". When that layer is selected, color picking from it will color pick the actual color on the layer, and not the color you see as a result of the blend. Then you can set it back to "All Layers". I use Tool Presets to instantaneously switch from All Layers and Current Layer, and I always have the panel open on a corner of my UI (I also use it for a few other similar things). I find this much faster and more convenient than changing the blending mode of the layer. Also, that plugin seems very useful to me. I might go get it.