How do you show the blend mode drop down for your layers on the timeline?

To display the blend mode drop down for layers in the timeline, toggling the Switches/Modes button is the correct approach. This action allows users to switch between viewing different layer properties and the blend modes. When this button is activated, additional options appear, including the blend modes that can be applied to layers. Understanding how to manipulate these modes is crucial for achieving different compositional effects and visual styles in After Effects.

Other methods, such as navigating through the 'Layer' menu or using a keyboard shortcut, do not directly reveal the blend mode options as quickly or efficiently as toggling the Switches/Modes button. The shortcut key 'M' specifically reveals the Mask property of a layer rather than blending options, while the right-click option provides a different set of choices that do not include the direct access to blend modes. Thus, toggling the Switches/Modes button is the most immediate method to access blend modes on the timeline.