The Dodge and Burn tool
Getting more precise control
Like dodging and burning in the darkroom precise control with these tools can be tricky. This TIP will describe a technique for selectively lightening and darkening images with an overlay layer that is quick and easy and which will give you very precise control over your dodging and burning.
The Tools
The dodge tool is used to lighten selected features in a freehand fashion. The burn tool is used to darken.
These Photoshop tools give you much more control than traditional darkroom techniques because the Options bar allows you to select which tones and intensity will affect the image.
If you are unfamiliar with these tools study the Range in the options bar, Shadows,Midtones and Highlights. With one of these tools selected you can affect only the areas that you have selected in the Range. The other areas will be unaffected.
Exposure
Controls the intensity of the dodge and burn effect. If you repeatedly brush over the same area, the intensity of the effect compounds.
Brushes
Those with soft edges usually work best. It is always best to use small amounts of exposure - 3% to 5%. To reverse an effect press 'Ctrl + z, ( for a PC).
Getting More Precise Control
Using an Overlay allows you to make changes to the effect later on but also easily adjust what you have done.
When you dodge and burn with an Overlay layer you brush your tonal changes onto a layer that is filled with 50% gray.
How to do it?
Step-1, Select Layer / New / Layer - a dialog box will open. You can name the layer for easier ref.. Change the Mode to Overlay and check the box labeled, "Fill with Overlay - neutral color (50% gray)".
Step-2, Press 'd' to restore the background colours to black and white.
Step-3, Select a soft brush and adjust the Opacity between 5% - 15% and the Flow to about 30%. Where you paint with white the image will lighten. When you paint with black the image will darken.
Notes
When you try this technique see what happens when you change the foreground colour from black to white - you will notice that it will either increase or reduce the burn or the dodge depending wether you are working with the colour black or white.
If you SAVE AS , without merging the layers you can adjust, change or delete your work at a later date.
Isn't this a better way to dodge and burn?
An Example
Fig. 1, will benefit from some burning to emphasise the eyes - Steps 1 - 3, as described above was followed faithfully. (Opacity 15% - Flow 30%)
Please compare Fig' s 1 and 2 .
The shirt and the background were darkened - the image was saved without merging the layers, this will enable me at a later date to refine or change what I have done without affecting the rest of the image.
