How to subtract the base color from one layer to the other? (layered materials)

[Ivan3z]

I’m trying to make a layered material. (This is my first time doing this).

I want to apply a spherical mask to any other material without having to make any modifications to those materials.

So I’ve put the spherical mask on a layer.

And in another layer I have put a test material… a simple red color.

I have managed to get the mask to work.

However the base color of one layer is blending with the base color of the other. (Black + Red in this case)

I think the problem is in the layer blend.

At the moment I have them mixed at 50% because I still don’t know how to separate the colors here.

But I’d like to subtract the black color so it doesn’t mix with the red color.

This is how it looks now:

How can I do that here?

Thank you so much!!

[Ivan3z]

ok, i think i got it… i’m not completely sure but at least i see the color less dark red.

i did it like this:

And this is the result:

please if you see that I did something wrong let me know.

Thank you so much!!