manderson Loc: Northeast Nebraska

I am trying to use dodge and burn function in PS CS6. I know there is a way to be able to dodge and burn specific items of an image. For example, the shadows of a mountain that needs to be dodged. I would like to highlight that one area only and dodge it. I have a couple of CS 6 books but they are about as helpful as nothing. They seem to leave a step or 2 out, probably because they assume people have an idea about the commands and what needs to be done. Any step by step instructions would be appreciated. I still haven't figured out the difference between layers and adjustment layers. Thank you in advance for your help.

CajonPhotog Loc: Shreveport, LA

Starting with layers/adjustment layers: Think of a photo as a building and the first floor is your original picture that you have just opened up, and it is named "background". Anything that is placed on top of the original photo would be a different floor/layer. So if you duplicate the original photo, PRESTO, you have just made a layer on top of your original photo, and that layer is called "layer 1". An example of an adjustment layer would be if you went to the bottom of the "layer" panel, there is an icon that looks like a ball called "create fill or adjustment layer". When you click that it brings up another panel with different choices of adjustment layers for you to select from. If you happen to choose the "Curves", when you click to select it, PRESTO, you have just created an adjustment layer. In reality, ANY layer can become an adjustment layer, it just all depends on what you do with them. And that my friend, is the magic of Photoshop ..... to learn what adjustments to make to which layer, and how much, and what blend mode, and what floor of my building to put it on, etc. etc.

To dodge and burn, you select the tool(left side of screen, look for a "lollipop" icon(dodge) or a "right hand with the fingers touching the thumb" icon(burn). They are both together, one under the other. (hold the mouse button down over the top of the top one and you will see both). Use them just like a brush, and there are options up above on how that brush is to act (opacity, blend modes, type of brush, etc. etc.)
Grab a junk picture and just start seeing what each tool does, eventually you will start getting the idea. Photoshop is like a carpenter's tool kit, most carpenters have the same basic tools, but some know how to manipulate those tools to create beautiful pieces of furniture, or houses, or decks. You have now got your tool kit, and now the journey begins to understand how those tools work, and all the different things each tool can do. Good luck my friend.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-photoshop-cs6/dodge-burn-and-sponge-101/

Working with Adjustment Layers
http://www.video2brain.com/en/lessons/working-with-adjustment-layers

The Power of Adjustment Layers
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-photoshop-cs6/the-power-of-adjustment-layers/

Basic Introduction to Using Layers
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-88101-1.html

Dr.db Loc: Central Point, OR

kubota king Loc: NW , Pa.

I use the burn and dodge tool all the time . Each tool has 3 selection to choose from . Shadows - Midtones - Highlights . And the Exposure can be adjusted from 1 to 100 for the strength amount you want to apply . You can use these tools in any area by controlling your brush size many times without having to make a selection around the items if your careful. I have a tablet and drawing pen that allows me to do fine work if needed that is very hard to do with a mouse .These tools work fast and are good for making quick changes in small areas or large . I usually start out around 17% strength , and then go from there . You can always undo if not happy and change the strength stronger or weaker . or apply more than once if needed to get the effect you are looking for , Tommy .

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Quick easy way to dodge and burn. Put a new blank layer on top of your picture. Go Edit>Fill> 50% grey. Now your pic is hidden by grey. Change blending mode of grey layer to Overlay. Your pic comes back!!. With soft brush at 10-15% opacity paint on the top layer in white to lighten areas and black to darken or increase shade Much much easier than dodge and burn tools which can take some mastering. Practice this for 10 mins and your home and dry

Yooper 2 Loc: Ironwood, MI

The house floors description makes perfect sense to me. I wish I had seen this description when I first attempted layers.

manderson Loc: Northeast Nebraska

You don't seem to understand the "step by step" part of my question. How do I change the blending mode of the grey layer to Overlay? How do I paint with white and black?

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

How to Change Blend Mode in Photoshop CS6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEuGD0pOqzc

manderson Loc: Northeast Nebraska

I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. I've been messing with this all afternoon. I've watched the videos and still struggling. When I create a new layer, I use the magnetic lasso tool to choose a specific portion of the photo. Ex is the dark underside of a bird wing. I then choose the dodge tool and when I run the dodge circle over the dark portion of the wing, nothing happens. If I choose the brush tool it lightens the dark. Why doesn't dodge work on a new layer?

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

are you adjusting the exposure? or anything else?

you may have to use the brush, then accept ots action. the keep adding brushes over it.

CajonPhotog Loc: Shreveport, LA

Are you making a new transparent layer, and trying to dodge and burn on that. That will not work, there are no pixels in that layer. Here is step by step:
1. CNTRL + J, this gives you a duplicate copy of your photo.
2. Circle the area you want to work on with the lasso tool.
3. Select the dodge or burn tool, select "shadows", "midtones", or "highlights (they are on the option bar).
4. Set your opacity to what you want ( I would start at 50% or less)
5. Make sure the top layer (the copy) is highlighted), and adjust the size of your brush (the [ bracket makes it smaller and the ] bracket makes the brush bigger)
6. Now, use the dodge tool, set on highlights. When you paint on a light colored area/object, the dodge tool will make it even brighter/lighter but will not have any effect on the dark colors. The burn tool works on the darker colors, but not the really bright ones.

See if you can at least get this far, if not more reading and watching videos is necessary.

manderson Loc: Northeast Nebraska

Thats where my problem lies, I was trying to use the dodge and burn on a transparent layer.

manderson Loc: Northeast Nebraska

The underside of the wings are really dark and I want to dodge them to lighten them up a little. I can make most changes in ACR but occasionally it would be nice to do a little more detail in photoshop. I think I'm starting to slowly figure it out. Thanks for your help.

manderson Loc: Northeast Nebraska

I think I've finally figured out how you do this method. Thanks for the help.