Layers - Blending modes - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/02/2005 05:30:41 PM · #1

I've heard of people using duplicates of the background on which they do their dodging and burning. My question is, then, what do you set the blending mode to for the doding and burning layers? Multiply/screen/overlay, what?

tsheets

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

11/02/2005 08:35:02 PM · #2

Sometimes I'll just dupe a layer and use blending mode of burn (or dodge, screen, multiply, overlay, etc..) and reduce opacity to achieve desired effect. Rather than dodge/burn with the corresponding tool, I'll use the blending mode on the whole layer, or a selected area (using a mask usually).

Another thing I sometimes do, is dupe the base layer and work from that just so I can turn off the dupe to see how far I've gone. Has no effect on the final jpg, but I can toss the dupe away and not loose any other changes/layers I have done as it would if I went back in undo history.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

11/02/2005 09:19:03 PM · #3

Thanks for your input. I'll have to give that a try.

Joey Lawrence

PhaseOne P45

11/02/2005 09:53:19 PM · #4

Using duplicated layers with subtle color effects on the top layer such as shifts in the color balance set to soft and hard light can come out very cool.

Nusbaum

Fujifilm X-T1

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

11/02/2005 10:15:14 PM · #5

I used to use a duplicate layer, but I have a slightly different approach now.
1. create an Curves adjustment layer
2. ctl-click the tone that need to go up or down (dodge or burn)
3. move the point on the curve until the tone is at it's desired point
4. use a mask on that layer to control what areas in the image receive the adjustment.

This allows me to go back and adjust amount of the adjustmet as well as where it is applied with no risk to the base image.

wavelength

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

11/02/2005 10:29:40 PM · #6

I agree with Joey,

It's a pain to go through the editing steps, but all of the pictures used different selections and levels of blurring. Hard Light, screen, and multiply are probably my most used, but not exclusively.

wavelength

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

11/02/2005 10:35:41 PM · #7

Originally posted by justin_hewlett:

Reading your question thoroughly again, I think the answer is: Yes.

D: all of the above.

And false (your assumption)

There are many different ways to achieve a desired effect, you have been given some. Your assumption that there is a standard, or "right" way to do it is false. You can apply dodge/brun to a copied layer, and leave it normal. You can apply dodge/burn with a the blend mode of your choice. You can use a contrast mask (google it). You can used selections of certain areas copied to another layer, blurred or whatnot, and then blended however.

There is no spoon.

11/02/2005 10:45:54 PM · #8

Originally posted by wavelength:

Originally posted by justin_hewlett:
I've heard of people using duplicates of the background on which they do their dodging and burning. My question is, then, what do you set the blending mode to for the doding and burning layers? Multiply/screen/overlay, what?

Reading your question thoroughly again, I think the answer is: Yes.

D: all of the above.

And false (your assumption)

There are many different ways to achieve a desired effect, you have been given some. Your assumption that there is a standard, or "right" way to do it is false. You can apply dodge/brun to a copied layer, and leave it normal. You can apply dodge/burn with a the blend mode of your choice. You can use a contrast mask (google it). You can used selections of certain areas copied to another layer, blurred or whatnot, and then blended however.

There is no spoon.

Right, I know that there's no one correct way, I was just seeking input on some different methods that some fellow DPC'ers used.