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Last Updated:
Jan 20th, 2007 - 12:55:03 |
The Dodge tool and the Burn tool lighten or darken areas of the image. You can use the Dodge tool to bring out details in shadows and the Burn tool to bring out details in highlights.
One handy tip is to make your edits to a copy of your photo by duplicating the layer before you start to work.
In this photo, the overhead light causes dark shadows under the eyes, so let’s use the Dodge Tool to lighten those shadows a bit.
First let’s zoom in on the face so we can see what we are doing.
Select the Dodge tool from the Tools Palette. Note that the Sponge Tool, the Dodge Tool and the Burn Tool are all on the same icon, simply right click to select the appropriate tool.
Now, let’s set our options for the Dodge Tool in the options bar:
Brushes pop-up menu Sets the brush tip. Click the arrow next to the brush sample, choose a brush category from the Brushes pop-up menu, and then select a brush thumbnail.
Size Sets the size of the brush, in pixels. Drag the Size slider or enter a size in the text box.
Range Sets the image tonal range that the tool adjusts. Select Midtones to change the middle range of grays, Shadows to change the dark areas, and Highlights to change the light areas.
Exposure Sets the effect of the tool with each stroke. A higher percentage increases the effect.
To dodge or burn an area gradually, set the tool with a low exposure value and drag several times over the area you want to correct. For light retouching of facial areas, it is advised to use an exposure level of not more than 10%.
Drag over the part of the image you want to modify. Each subsequent pass with the tool will lighten the area more.
Here is the original photo – next, we “paint” over the dark shadows. Here’s what it looks like after one pass with the Dodge Tool:
Then after a few more passes:
The Burn tool works in much the same way, but it darkens the areas it touches instead.
Experiment with different brushes, sizes, ranges and exposures until you get a natural looking effect. Be sure to work on copies of your photos, so you can always start over until you get the result you want.
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