Quote:
Originally Posted by Ant0nio
Thanks Alex, I've just started using the layers in PS with the different options & opacity, mostly soft light, luminosity, colours & hue.
I've noticed the burn & dodge options but don't know how to use them yet. Any tips?
Cheers,
Tony
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Select the dodge tool for example and at the bottom of screen both the dodge tool and the burn tool will appear (there is a smudge as well but I have yet to use it) although you are already able to use the dodge tool. A circle should appear where you drag your mouse over the image and its size can be varied by the slider at the bottom of the screen.
You will also see a opacity slider..for a start set it high, to the right, and click on your image it, at least the region outlined by the curcle, should become lighter...also there are a selecrion of brushes and I suggest you select a thick one with blurred edges...try a few to get a feel...play around for a while.. when you have a feel for it select the burn tool it makes the region within the circle darker..again use a thick brush with blurred edges...now when actually working on an image set the opacity rather low so it takes a few clicks before you notice any change .. be subtle but you will over do it for starters I expect..I certainly did☺ ...so first click on areas that may benefit from being lighter with the dodge tool and then select areas that will benefit being darker ..it really brings out features particularly where there is a very faint dust lane a couple of subtle clicks and they jump out....also seeing you use layers try the rubber tool...make a dark copy and place your lighter image on top use the rubber where you want darker features or do similar with a light image...
Also once you have results perhaps layer your original image and add only a percentage of the images created using Dodge and burn or the rubber tools.
If you want to add some colour make a layer (new layer solid colour) of the colour you would like more ... place in your main image on it and use the rubber tool sparingly to let a little colour into the specific region you want..I cheat usitnf the rubber and the one colour layer to give my colourless stars a hint of colour by setting the rubber diameter very small and clicking with the opacity set rather low.
All these approaches are probably considered not the thing to do..I dont know but it is photo shop after all so why not use some of its magic☺...the key is not to be to heavy handed which is a virtue I am still working upon.
Give it all a go and let me know if you get them to work for you...the dodge tool can bring out stuff you did not realise was there...they all work because you are only working on a small region and not the whole image...you know how it goes you brigten an image to get some faint detail but doing that blows out an already bright region.. . .dodge gives you specific area control..as do the other tools and methods I set out.
Good luck.
Alex
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