Photoshop CS4 - Non-destructive Doding & Burning

The new adjustment layers panel is fantastic in CS4 for many non-destructive edit techniques. However, I'm puzzled why didn't they put the dodging and burning tools there as well?

My question is: Is there a better way to non-destructively dodge and burn in CS4 versus earlier editions where I had to create a new layer? What about converting the image to a "smart image"? Would that work?

Thanks for your help!

One of many ways:

Copy layer, use a layer mask to hide all, set layer blending mode to screen. Brush to reveal what you want to dodge.

Same with blending mode to multiply for burn.

Alternatively: create a new layer or use a curves adjustment layer.

Or duplicate layer and set to linear burn or linear dodge and use masks and/or opacity for control.

Create a new layer, fill with 50% gray, blending mode set to soft light. Do your dodging and burning on this layer. You can instantly see what effect it has by turning the layer on and off. I made an action that creates the layer and selects the burn tool for a quick adjustment.

highbarger wrote in post #6948397
Create a new layer, fill with 50% gray, blending mode set to soft light. Do your dodging and burning on this layer. You can instantly see what effect it has by turning the layer on and off. I made an action that creates the layer and selects the burn tool for a quick adjustment.

That's what I do as well, except I use a transparent layer (default) instead of 50% grey. I see other people suggest the grey - is that just so you can see on your little thumbnail better?


I would have liked to see that panel customizable so I could put a filter/blur/etc on there that I use frequently and automatically have the mask applied. But I always ask for too much anyway...

TheSonofDarwin wrote in post #6948592
is that just so you can see on your little thumbnail better?

Nah, it's probably so dodge and burn actually do something.
They have no effect on a transparent layer

TheSonofDarwin wrote in post #6948592
But I always ask for too much anyway...

Maybe, maybe not:

This might be of interest. Not sure if it does what you want (haven't tried it myself) but does offer possibilities, at least for the filters...

As for the masks: You can have a mask automatically applied to adjustment layers (that's the default behaviour), and on a layer, it's just a click away anyway...

René Damkot wrote in post #6948801
Nah, it's probably so dodge and burn actually do something.
They have no effect on a transparent layer

Hey smartypants! They do when you paint with white and black. When I was young we were conditioned to be afraid of the dodge and burn tools!

Oh and thanks for the link! Now I'm excited. Edit: Well less excited now that I played with it. Wish more add-ons would start creating a snapshot, apply the filter effect, and add a mask all in one go. It doesn't save a whole lot of time clicking on Filter-Blur-Gaussian compared to using the custom palate. I can't think of too many instances where I want the effect to affect the entire image.. just seems like it'd be common practice by now to create a maskable effect. Yeah I know I can do it manually, but if the point of plug-ins are convenience.

Thanks everyone!

I too use a 50% grey layer, but set the blending mode to overlay. Original layer shows through as is, and dodging and burning can be achieved by painting with low opacity black and white on the grey layer.

Sorarse wrote in post #6951138
I too use a 50% grey layer, but set the blending mode to overlay. Original layer shows through as is, and dodging and burning can be achieved by painting with low opacity black and white on the grey layer.

This is what I do also.

Converting the photo to a Smart Object will not help with Dodge & Burn effect. You need some way of being able to undo/redo the effect, and the Smart Object would remember the state of a layer but it owuld ot remember the individual strokes used to generate the layer.

I have a free .PF tutorial and a couple of video tutorials that desribe the technique.

.PDF tutorial
http://www.thelightsri​ght.com …AndBurningUnder​ControlPDF

Video tutorial
http://www.thelightsri​ght.com …ingAndBurningUn​derControl

Detailed video tutorial that explains three different techniques:
http://www.thelightsri​ght.com/DodgingAndBurn​ing

Enjoy!

Cheers,

Mitch

[QUOTE=René Damkot;6948801]Nah, it's probably so dodge and burn actually do something.
They have no effect on a transparent layer

I've tried both the transparent layer and the layer filled with 50% grey. Both worked fine. I usually use the transparent layer these days.

I think I'm the only person in the world who thinks D&B is total bunkum ...

Damo77 wrote in post #6956516
I think I'm the only person in the world who thinks D&B is total bunkum ...

Could be, it's like saying screwdrivers are. Just another tool that fits a specific task.

Damo77 wrote in post #6956516
I think I'm the only person in the world who thinks D&B is total bunkum ...

If you're doing high end retouching on models then D&B is your friend. From body/face sculpting to reducing wrinkles there is a thousand and one things that can be done.

Yes Clone/Healing Brush have their place but if you want to retain texture or shape then D&B is often the best way of achieving this.

D&B is also used to create focus in images by selecting because of the way human eyes work we are drawing to the lightest part of the image so to take advantage of it make your subject brighter and the rest darker.

Of course there is other ways to do this roles such as curves but D&B is intuitive as you paint in what you need.