jeep_daddy wrote:
Thank you Mike. You did an excellent job and I really appreciate your step by step and detailed processes. I am wondering how to dodge and burn using LR. I know how in PS but never done it in LR.
Dodging and burning in LR is actually quite easy, no more difficult than using PS. You have 5 tools available to select the area to lighten or darken.
1. Brush Tool
2. Radial Filter
3. Gradient Filter
4. Auto Mask (with the brush tool)
5. Range Mask
Tools 1-3 creates a pseudo-mask or a mask overlay, very similar a PS layer mask modified with a brush or gradient tool (linear/radial). Tools 4-5 are modifier of the mask overlay.
The Auto mask selects an edge based on both luminosity and/or color. It is similar in concept as the lasso tool in PS.
The Range Mask is a fairly recent addition to LR but extremely powerful. It allows you to modify the masks (1-4) to limit the mask to either a selected color or luminosity range. The Color function in LR is similar to the Select|Color Range in PS. The Luminance function is the same as the Select|Color Range|[Highlight/Midtone/Shadow] with exactly the same controls. It's just a way of applying a luminosity mask.
To burn an area, select one of the filters, such as the brush tool. Brush over the area you want to burn and reduce the exposure slider in the Mask control box. To dodge, just increase the exposure slider. To make the mask visible, toggle the 'O' key. In addition to being able to lighten or darken a local area, you can apply any of the modifiers in the Mask control box. For example, I increased texture in your mountain using the brush tool and just increased the texture slider.
If you want to eliminate part of the mask, you can either select Erase at the bottom of the Mask control box or just press the Option (Alt for PC) key and you will see the + sign in the middle of the brush change to a - sign. Then you brush over the masked area you want to remove similar to the white brush in a layer mask in PS.
This is just a brief introduction to D&B in LR. It's actually quite easy once you do it a couple of times. There's also some good youtube videos on this subject. If you use PS instead of LR exclusively, these same features are in ACR and work exactly the same way.
My workflow is to start in LR and go to PS on an as-needed basis. These tools reduces my need to use PS as often as I did in the past. For me, the Range Mask was a huge addition to LR since I was already using luminosity masks in PS. Now I only go to PS for the tougher problems.
Hope this helps you
Mike