Preliminary results show Subtract (Difference) mode is working same as in this url as Andrew quoted.  See attached where compare3.gif shows the URL's difference with Cinelerra subtract below and input.gif shows CinGG input files.
according to this
https://emptyeasel.com/2008/11/14/layer-modes-part-three-difference-addition-subtraction-darken-lighten/

color inversion in subtract mode IS normal thing.

yet in original Cin something else happens ....


may be Phyllis can replace our original red-green square  images with full-color gradients + photo, so effect will be more natural? Or add this into new appendix .....