*Technique
TECHNIQUE: Using the Dodge and Burn Brush
By Shelleyrae Cusbert 2005
Apr 12, 2005, 00:35

The dodge and burn brush has several uses in creating layouts. It mimics darkroom techniques used in film photography allowing you to lighten or darken selected areas of a photograph and can also be used on elements to add depth or dimension.

The Dodge and Burn brush is selected by choosing Touch Up from the menu bar then Other Photo Repair > Dodge and Burn Brush.

This opens the tool box to allow you to make adjustments to the size of the brush, the brush style and whether you wish to lighten or darken and my how much.

The photograph shown was taken at midday in bright sun and so heavy shadows have fallen across the face under the brim of the riding hat hiding much of her face. By using the dodge brush I can rescue some of that detail and so improve the photograph. The tool has better effect on shadowed areas where the picture information is still present underneath the shadow.

To start, zoom in on the area.

Choose an appropriate brush size. You can change brush sizes as you work however the dodge and burn brush is cumulative. This means when you release the mouse after brushing an area, if you go over the same area its brightness will increase again by your chosen level.

You can choose an appropriate brush size by changing the slider and then move your cursor to the area you are dodging to judge which size brush will best suit. For this area I have chosen 40.

Decide if the brush style should have a soft edge or hard edge. This will depend on the area of the photograph and its proximity to other areas you want to remain unaffected.

For this picture I have chosen the soft brush.

The brightness level determines the level of dodge and defaults at 20, assuming that you will be dodging a subject. Determining the correct level of brightness depends on the darkness of the shadow and the lightness of the areas surrounding, as well as the amount of detail you want to reveal. Try different levels of brightness and use reset or undo last action to begin again. For this photograph I have increased the brightness to 30.

The contrast level defaults at 0 and may be altered if you desire. The contrast tool works on color to change the hue of the area. For this task I have left it as 0.

To begin dodging move your cursor over to the area where you are planning to work and click and hold the mouse to paint. Remember the brush is cumulative once you release the mouse button.

Start in the shadowed area and paint over the shadow. You will see the detail come out as shown in the second picture above. The area looks very grey and contrasts very strongly against the tone of the rest of the face however so to even the appearance I have continued painting over the rest of the face to even the tone as shown in the third picture above.

The eyes and expression on her face are now revealed and improve the photograph, and I can go on to edit the photograph as desired.

Burning is a tool I often use on elements to create depth.

This strap looks flat as if I have just laid rectangles over the D ring and added studs, which of course I have.

To add realism I can use the burn tool.

Zoom into the area and decide on a brush size. For this project I need to increase the size to 340. I want the brush to be soft to give the impression of the shadow spreading. Determine the level of darkness required here I have chosen -15. I also altered the contrast to 20.

I have started by burning where the D ring would be pushing into to the strap. Remembering that the effect is cumulative, I held down the mouse and painted several strokes to match the width of the metal. I then released the mouse and painted another line just off center to emphasize the curve. I then used the same brush settings to follow the curve of the D ring.

Now the ends of the strap inside the ring need attention. The idea is that they are curved inward, around the D ring and under the strap to be held in place by the studs.

Using the same size brush, with a soft edge I have decreased the darkness to -10 and painted over the ends. I then decreased the size of the brush to make it thinner darkened it again to -15 and painted a thin line at the very edge of the strap. This gives the illusion of the roll, and the strap immediately looks more realistic.

The burn brush can also be used to paint in shadows if you do not get the precision needed with the standard shadow command. To use the burn brush to create shadows you need to paint on the object that is behind the object you want to shadow. This does mean you cannot later adjust the placement of the object however as the burned shadow will remain in place.  In the first image below I have burned around the stud directly on to the strap. You can see in the second image how I have moved the stud away to reveal the burn.

Spend some time becoming familiar with the dodge and burn brush to improve photographs and add depth and shadow to your elements.