Dodge and Burn (50% Gray)

The Dodge and Burn tools in Photoshop are a neat way to add character, drama, and detail to an image by selectively making parts of it darker or brighter.

Unfortunately, these are considered "destructive" tools (meaning once you darken a spot, you can't just lighten it to bring back the same detail). So instead we're going to go for a similar effect using a method we'll call the 50% Gray Overlay Method. This method of editing is non-destructive, and you'll learn why that's useful.

4) Select your new 50% gray layer ("Layer 1") and duplicate it twice (i.e. press CTRL-J twice). You should now have three 50% gray layers.

5) Rename your layers "Light", "Dark", "Big". If you double-click the name of a layer, Photoshop will let you rename it.

6) Ensure your colour palette is re-set to default black and white by pressing the D key.

7) Press B to select the Brush tool.

8) You can use the square brackets [ and ] to adjust the size of your brush.

9) Change the brush opacity to a low number like 30%.

10) If you wish to toggle between black and white brushes, press the X key.

11) Select the Big layer first.

12) Make some initial adjustments to the overall image. If you want to create a "vignette" effect, brush black around the outside of the image and white in the middle where the subject is.

13) Select the Dark layer.

14) Use a black brush to paint shadows in dimensional details in specific parts of the image. Consider the light source of the image so that your added shadows look consistent!

15) Select the Light layer.

16) Use a white brush to paint highlights in dimensional details in specific parts of the image. Consider the light source of the image so that your added shadows look consistent!

17) To check your work, try de-selecting the layer "eyeballs" to see what your image looks like before and after your edits!

Remember:

- The History window is a good way to undo multiple steps.

- Ctrl-Z = Undo one step

- Ctrl-Alt-Z = Undo multiple steps

PROJECT: DODGE & BURN (50% GRAY)

Choose ONE image from your collection or from the Internet (must be high-resolution! If you don't know how to filter your search for hi-res images, please ask your teacher!)

Give both the tutorial image and your image an enhanced treatment using the tools taught in this lesson. This takes time and nuance, not just a couple of quick brushstrokes. Consider darkening existing lines and shadows and lightening existing highlights to create more interesting contrast. You can also create vignette and other effects on a more global scale.

When finished, save your projects as .psd (for yourself in case you need to do further edits) and again as .jpg (use a different filename like "DodgeBurnAfter" so you don't overwrite your original images).

Please upload both your "before" and "after" versions, side-by-side, to CLASSROOM. Complete the self-evaluation rubric and TURN IN.