Nondestructive Dodging & Burning

Topics covered in this Photoshop tutorial:

Creating a Nondestructive dodge & burn layer, Lighten/darken parts of an image

Exercise Preview

Exercise Overview

Sometimes we want to darken or lighten parts of an image, a process called dodging and burning. We do this to even out tones, or to create better definition. When dodging and burning we want to work nondestructively, which is what you’ll learn about in this exercise.

Getting Started

1. If you just completed the previous exercise, you may still have yourname-frequency-separation.psd open. If not, re-open it from Desktop > Class Files > Skin Retouching Class.

   If you did not complete the previous exercise, open frequency-separation-done.psd which is found in Desktop > Class Files > Skin Retouching Class.

2. Go to File > Save As.

3. Name it yourname-dodge&burn.psd and save it back into the Skin Retouching Class folder.

4. There’s an action that will create a layer for us to do nondestructive dodging and burning on. Open the Actions panel (Window > Actions).

5. Look for the FX-Ray Retouch folder. If you did the previous exercise, you will already have it loaded, so you can skip to the next step. If you do not have the FX-Ray Retouch folder, complete the following sidebar.

   Loading the FX-Ray Retouch Actions

   1. At the top right of the Actions panel, go into the panel menu and choose Load Actions.

   2. In the dialog that opens, navigate to Desktop > Class Files > Skin Retouching Class > Frequency Separation Photoshop Action and double–click the action for your version of Photoshop:

      CC and higher: FX-Ray_Retouch_CC.atn
      CS5 and CS6: FX-Ray_Retouch_CS5.atn

6. In the Layers panel, select the neck color layer, which is the top layer in the Frequency Separation group. We do this so the new dodge and burn layer will be added above all the work we’ve already done.

7. In the Actions panel, make sure the FX-Ray Retouch folder is expanded.

8. Select the Dodge&Burn Layer action, and at the bottom of the panel click the Play button .

   NOTE: If you have your Actions panel set to Button Mode, you just click the gold Dodge&Burn Layer action.

Dodging & Burning

1. In the Layers panel a new Dodge&Burn layer will be selected. Notice that the layer thumbnail is gray and its blending mode is Soft Light. Like the Linear Light blend mode we covered in the previous exercise:

   • 50% gray produces no change to the underlying layers, so it disappears.
   • Colors lighter than 50% gray will brighten (dodge) the underlaying layers.
   • Colors darker than 50% gray will darken (burn) the underlaying layers.

   The layer is currently all 50% gray, so it has no affect on the image. As we dodge and burn the layer, we’ll lighten and darken it, which will be blended into the underlying layers, thus lightening or darkening them! Let’s give it a try.

2. Zoom in or out so you can see the face and neck.

3. In the Tools panel, select the Burn tool . You’ll probably have to click and hold on the Dodge tool to choose it.

   NOTE: The Burn tool darkens and Dodge tool lightens. An easy way to remember the difference between them, is when you burn toast it gets darker!

4. In the Options bar, set Exposure to 10% and select a soft brush.

   Setting a low exposure gives you more control. It’s better to make multiple subtle passes, than to do too much in one pass.

5. We want to slightly darken the neck below the model’s chin to make the face stand out a bit more. Using an appropriately-sized brush, paint over the shadow below the chin.

   You may have to paint a couple times to get the effect you want.

6. Let’s make the lips more pronounced by lightening the edge of the lips. Choose a smaller brush that’s better for fine-tuned outlining.

7. Here’s a nice tip. Holding Option (Mac) or Alt (Windows) toggles between the Dodge and Burn tools. So if you’re currently burning, but want to make something lighter, just hold that keystroke and paint!

   Let’s try it out. Hold Option (Mac) or Alt (Windows) and paint a small line over the top of the model’s lip to lighten the edge.

8. To check your progress, go into the Layers panel and click the eye next to the Dodge&Burn layer to see the before and after.

9. Isn’t it nice to have a separate layer so you can dodge and burn nondestructively? Feel free to dodge or burn any other areas you feel need it:

   • Don’t hold any keys to darken (burn).
   • Hold Option (Mac) or Alt (Windows) to lighten (dodge).

10. When done, save and close the file.