Applying Dodge & Burn on an Adjustment Layer — How?

Ken Hall wrote:

It seems like this should be inanely simple, but I can’t figure it out. How do I apply the dodge and burn tools on an adjustment layer so if I want to remove it later I can?

Ken

You can’t Ken.

But you could use adjustment layers to get the (sort of the same) effect. Just use the mask (which is there by default) on the adjustment layer to show the effect in the places you want.

Ken Hall wrote:

It seems like this should be inanely simple, but I can’t figure it out. How do I apply the dodge and burn tools on an adjustment layer so if I want to remove it later I can?

One way that allows you to "remove it later" if you wish is to do Layer – New – Layer and in the dialog box for Mode select ‘soft light’ which will open up another choice, ‘fill with soft-light-neutral color’ which you should also select. This does nothing to the image until you paint on the soft light layer … paint with black darkens (burns in), paint with white lightens it … use a low opacity brush, say 5-15%, with ‘airbrush’ turned on. If you want to work on different areas just make a new soft light layer for each area so if you screw up one place you don’t have to toss away your earlier edits.

Bill

On Fri, 23 Dec 2005 18:33:07 +0100, Trace Elliot
wrote:

Ken Hall wrote:

It seems like this should be inanely simple, but I can’t figure it out. How do I apply the dodge and burn tools on an adjustment layer so if I want to remove it later I can?

Ken

You can’t Ken.

But you could use adjustment layers to get the (sort of the same) effect. Just use the mask (which is there by default) on the adjustment layer to show the effect in the places you want.

So I wasn’t dim. Thanks

Ken

On 23 Dec 2005 09:43:49 -0800, "Bill Hilton"
wrote:

Ken Hall wrote:

It seems like this should be inanely simple, but I can’t figure it out. How do I apply the dodge and burn tools on an adjustment layer so if I want to remove it later I can?

One way that allows you to "remove it later" if you wish is to do Layer – New – Layer and in the dialog box for Mode select ‘soft light’ which will open up another choice, ‘fill with soft-light-neutral color’ which you should also select. This does nothing to the image until you paint on the soft light layer … paint with black darkens (burns in), paint with white lightens it … use a low opacity brush, say 5-15%, with ‘airbrush’ turned on. If you want to work on different areas just make a new soft light layer for each area so if you screw up one place you don’t have to toss away your earlier edits.

Thanks. I’ll try this. After reading your reply I roamed around the net and found that some people suggest using Overlay instead of Soft Light.

http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/dodging-burning-pho toshop.html http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=2478

Do you know the pros and cons of these two methods?

Ken

Sorry, the first link was wrong. My message should have read:

On Sat, 24 Dec 2005 14:15:54 -0600, Ken Hall
wrote:

Thanks. I’ll try this. After reading your reply I roamed around the net and found that some people suggest using Overlay instead of Soft Light.

http://www.bairarteditions.com/pages/tutorials/photoshop/exd andb.html http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=2478

Do you know the pros and cons of these two methods?

Ken

Ken

Ken Hall wrote …

Do you know the pros and cons of these two methods?
(ie, Overlay mode vs Soft-light with neutral gray fill)

Both are better than Dodge or Burn, I think … a lot more flexible for a little more work, a trade-off I don’t mind making … looks like either one will do the job …

I learned the Soft-light method many years ago with Photoshop 4 via the book "Photoshop Artistry" by Haynes etc and since I’m used to that method I didn’t spend much time with Overlay, but it looks like it is similar … in the first site you link to he primarily discusses Overlay and at the bottom of the page he says "Update 7/04/2005 – As an alternative to the Overlay blending mode, you may want to try "Soft Light" mode for even more subtle effects." … so apparently he’s tried both and feels ‘soft light’ is more subtle for some reason …

BTW I used to do this quite a bit for burning in shadow detail with versions 4 – 7 but in the CS upgrade Photoshop introduced ‘shadow/highlight’ and now I rarely use the older method since the shadow/highlight tool at proper settings does a really nice job, I feel.

Bill

On 24 Dec 2005 15:00:49 -0800, "Bill Hilton"
wrote:

BTW I used to do this quite a bit for burning in shadow detail with versions 4 – 7 but in the CS upgrade Photoshop introduced ‘shadow/highlight’ and now I rarely use the older method since the shadow/highlight tool at proper settings does a really nice job, I feel.

Doesn’t Shadows/Highlights have the same problem as Dodge/Burn, in that it can’t be done on an adjustment layer?

I played around with Shadows/Highlights when it first came out, but I wasn’t able to control it. I just went back and played with it again to remind me of the problems I had.

Often I’m unable to lighten dark areas without affecting light areas. Even if I push the "Tonal Width" to zero.

Also, it seems like these adjustment must be made before some or most adjustment layers are created or the effects are unpredictable, and until some other adjustments are made you don’t know how much to push this tool. In an image I just tried to use it on it made the cloned spots jump into prominence.

These problems may well be something I’m doing wrong because of lack of experience, but they are the reasons I don’t use this feature.

Ken

"Ken Hall" wrote in message

On 24 Dec 2005 15:00:49 -0800, "Bill Hilton"
wrote:

BTW I used to do this quite a bit for burning in shadow detail with versions 4 – 7 but in the CS upgrade Photoshop introduced ‘shadow/highlight’ and now I rarely use the older method since the shadow/highlight tool at proper settings does a really nice job, I feel.

Doesn’t Shadows/Highlights have the same problem as Dodge/Burn, in that it can’t be done on an adjustment layer?

I played around with Shadows/Highlights when it first came out, but I wasn’t able to control it. I just went back and played with it again to remind me of the problems I had.

Often I’m unable to lighten dark areas without affecting light areas. Even if I push the "Tonal Width" to zero.

Also, it seems like these adjustment must be made before some or most adjustment layers are created or the effects are unpredictable, and until some other adjustments are made you don’t know how much to push this tool. In an image I just tried to use it on it made the cloned spots jump into prominence.

These problems may well be something I’m doing wrong because of lack of experience, but they are the reasons I don’t use this feature.
Ken

why not just use a duplicate layer or a copy of the original?? I always leave an unretouched original layer on the background level, just for reference or to get back from any errors I may make to the layer above it.
I have used the shadow/highlight tool with successful results. If I want to dodge/burn I do it on a dupe layer or copy
I did not know of the overlay or soft light method, sounds cool If you don’t like how a particular area looks after you adjust it USE the mask to "paint out" what you don’t like.
Or just use the tools on selected areas. Often you need to fix small areas of a picture not the entire frame.