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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Burning tool
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Showing posts 1 - 14 of 14, (reverse)
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 01/19/2005 08:13:35 PM · #1
HI,
I was wondering how can i used my dodge/burning tool, i have heard a lot of it, have used it but i think theres more to it than i know.
does anyone know a good site where it talks about how to use this tool, or any advice on using this tool? and how to use it properly
 01/19/2005 08:22:30 PM · #2
Experiment with the % of application and applying it to highlights or shadows only (both selections available in the bar at top of photoshop) and, of course, the actual size of the brush. I tend to use it with a very large diameter brush at very low% of application, like 6-12%, and pass back over the same areas repeatedly. It's very subtle, and easy to overdo it in highlights especially.

Robt.
 01/19/2005 08:29:09 PM · #3
I agree with bear_music. Use as large a diameter brush as you can reasonably use, with a very soft edge. Between 8-15% opacity is what works for me.
 01/19/2005 08:37:42 PM · #4
Using a graphics tablet like Wacom you can alter the thickness with pen pressure.
 01/19/2005 09:00:11 PM · #5
Personally, I don't like the dodge/burn tool on PS.

I just create an overlay layer and check the "fill with 50% grey" box.

Make sure that layer is selected, then paint in black where you want to burn and white where you want to dodge. I usualluy set the brush opacity to ~20%-40%, but you can turn it up if you need too.

This lets you switch your burning/dodging off and on at will to see just how you've changed the pic.

Of course, this method and the burn/dodge tool are not Basic Challenge legal.
 01/19/2005 09:04:30 PM · #6
thanks all but where should i mustly use it on? what is the main use of this tool?
 01/19/2005 09:06:50 PM · #7
Also see this thread
link to thread
 01/19/2005 09:16:35 PM · #8
With a smaller resolution image (as the 640x ones in use at DPC), you can also set your brush larger than the image and burn (or dodge) it entirely.
 01/19/2005 11:16:56 PM · #9
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Personally, I don't like the dodge/burn tool on PS.

I just create an overlay layer and check the "fill with 50% grey" box.

Make sure that layer is selected, then paint in black where you want to burn and white where you want to dodge. I usualluy set the brush opacity to ~20%-40%, but you can turn it up if you need too.

This lets you switch your burning/dodging off and on at will to see just how you've changed the pic.

Of course, this method and the burn/dodge tool are not Basic Challenge legal.


I agree... this is better.

Things can be undone and refined when you make mistakes and it is easy to see what you have done by turning on and off the 50% overlay layer.

You can also select different colors to fill them in where they are weak in the image.
 01/19/2005 11:24:35 PM · #10
YOu can create a duplicate layer and apply your burning/dodging to that; this you can turn on and off as below. Sometimes, with small areas, the burn/dodge tool is the simplest solution. It's also ideal for slightly darkening the corners of images to "contain" them.

The "masking" method described below is fine for serious manipulation of tonalities in broader areas, although there are better solutions available. The burn'dodge tool works well for small, local applications; a highlight on a nose, perhaps, or a too-bright specular reflection.

Remember, there's literally NOTHING you can do in photoshop that you can't do on a layer of its own. My AVERAGE image is likely to have 9-10 layers before I start simplifying it. I try out different things, turn 'em on and off, and then toss the ones I end up leaving off when I make my final decision on the image.

Robt.

01/19/2005 11:27:18 PM · #11
Originally posted by kirbic:
I agree with bear_music. Use as large a diameter brush as you can reasonably use, with a very soft edge. Between 8-15% opacity is what works for me.


Yeah, me too.
 01/19/2005 11:28:40 PM · #12
Originally posted by bear_music:
YOu can create a duplicate layer and apply your burning/dodging to that; this you can turn on and off as below. Sometimes, with small areas, the burn/dodge tool is the simplest solution. It's also ideal for slightly darkening the corners of images to "contain" them.

The "masking" method described below is fine for serious manipulation of tonalities in broader areas, although there are better solutions available. The burn'dodge tool works well for small, local applications; a highlight on a nose, perhaps, or a too-bright specular reflection.

Remember, there's literally NOTHING you can do in photoshop that you can't do on a layer of its own. My AVERAGE image is likely to have 9-10 layers before I start simplifying it. I try out different things, turn 'em on and off, and then toss the ones I end up leaving off when I make my final decision on the image.

Robt.


Yeah, me too.
 01/19/2005 11:29:15 PM · #13
Originally posted by stdavidson:
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Personally, I don't like the dodge/burn tool on PS.

I just create an overlay layer and check the "fill with 50% grey" box.

Make sure that layer is selected, then paint in black where you want to burn and white where you want to dodge. I usualluy set the brush opacity to ~20%-40%, but you can turn it up if you need too.

This lets you switch your burning/dodging off and on at will to see just how you've changed the pic.

Of course, this method and the burn/dodge tool are not Basic Challenge legal.


I agree... this is better.

Things can be undone and refined when you make mistakes and it is easy to see what you have done by turning on and off the 50% overlay layer.

You can also select different colors to fill them in where they are weak in the image.


Yeah, me too. No wait--I need to learn this trick. Sounds fun!
 01/21/2005 12:47:29 AM · #14
Whenever possible, I use and recommend the use of 50% grey technique as I like to isolate the areas I am targeting.

For example, simply create the 50% grey layer as mentioned previously, select the highlight colour range from the source image, feather it and apply that to a mask of the dodge and burn layer.

Now you have a soft doge and burn mask that will only affect the highlights. This can also be done for certain colours and other more specific selections.

If you don't have a graphics tablet, I would suggest putting it on the wish list as it is more natural to paint the light than click it- IMO

Cheers!
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