Dodging and Burning in Photoshop

Notice the three tools in Photoshop -- They are the Dodge Tool to lighten tones, the Burn Tool to darken and the Sponge Tool to remove excess saturation. I have shown where they are to be found. The dodging and burning and saturation helps to shift the focus of the image to where we want it. We , however, dodge, burn and sponge without the three tools. This is because this method gives exact control. So here goes.

Step 1 : I have opened this image in Photoshop which I will dodge, burn and sponge.

Step 2 : See the small hand and the red arrow it points to the New Layer Button. It used to create a new layer.

Step 3 : Press ALT on the keyboard and click the new layer button and this dialogue will open. The Name is Layer1, Color is set as None, Mode is Normal and Opacity is 100 %.

Step 4 : Change the Mode to Overlay.

Step 5 : Change the Name to Dodge. The Mode is now set to Overlay. Also tick the 'Fill with Overlay-neutral color (50% gray)'.

Step 6 : Now create another layer in exactly the same way, but this time name it Burn. The other settings in Step 4 and 5 remain the same.

Step 7 : Lastly create another layer. But this time do not press ALT. Now see the Layers/Channels/Paths pallette at right bottom of Photoshop. You have the Background, Dodge, Burn and the New Layer. Double click the new layer (see hand) and rename it Saturation. Now we are set.

Step 8 : Now click the Brush Tool from the flyout at left.

Step 9 : When you click the Brush Tool you will find the Opacity slider at the top. Reduce the opacity to 20 % by dragging the slider to the left.

Step 10 : Now click the Burn layer to select it.

Step 11 : Make sure that the Foreground color is set to black and background to white. See the bent arrow. It allows you to switch between foreground and background colors.

Step 12 : I am working with the brush. See how as I brush the color darkens or 'burns'. The more you use the brush the darker the portion of the image will become.

Step 13 : The background, the sofa and the hair have been darkened or 'burned'.

Step 14 : Now click the layer we have marked as Dodge to select it.

Step 15 : Set the Foreground color to white. Then take up the Brush Tool again.

Step 16 : Now see how the color lightens as I brush. The more I brush the lighter will the portion of the image become.

Step 17 : The face has become lighter in tone.

Step 18 : Now click the saturation layer to select it and change the blend mode to Saturation.

Step 19 : Before selecting the brush tool again, change the opacity to 100% as shown

Step 20 : Change the foreground color to black.

Step 21 : Notice as I paint the background with the brush tool it changes to gray.

Step 22 : I have grayed out the background completely.

Step 23 : No lower the opacity by around half by dragging the slider to the left.

The finished image. we have been able to draw the focus to the face by darkening the background and lightening the skin tones of the face. This is the purpose of using the Dodge, Burn and Sponge (Saturation) tool.

That's all.