Dodge tool
You need to change the opacity of the brush to 5 percent at the most but preferably lower. Mine is set at about 3 percent.
If I remember correctly the default setting in Photoshop is 50 percent and it may be for Elements as well. This is way too much and will leave streaks across the image.
A soft edge brush is crucial too. Once this is changed you can go over the area and build up the effect.
If I remember correctly the default setting in Photoshop is 50 percent and it may be for Elements as well. This is way too much and will leave streaks across the image.
A soft edge brush is crucial too. Once this is changed you can go over the area and build up the effect.
Quote:You need to change the opacity of the brush to 5 percent at the most but preferably lower. Mine is set at about 3 percent....
...A soft edge brush is crucial too. Once this is changed you can go over the area and build up the effect.
Agreed. In addition, I find it's best to use a really big brush. And select the "Range"....set to highlighhts, or midtones, or shadows... not vital, but it helps.
Agreed. Both the dodge and burn tools are extremely powerful. The default setting will be 50% which is way too high! I rarely set above 3%, and build up the effect gently.
Don't fall into the trap of assuming that you'll get best results for a dark area by dodging shadows, that will give a flat, 2-dimensional effect. Select highlights, this will pull out lighter details and give a more 3-D effect.
Choose your brush size according to the subject - a huge brush to enhance for example a large area of rocks or foliage, a very small brush if working on lettering in an engraving, or individual stems of a plant.
Similarly for the burn tool - 3% exposure and build up the effect, choose brush size carefully; and try selecting shadows, particularly in a foreground area - it will enhance textures.
Don't fall into the trap of assuming that you'll get best results for a dark area by dodging shadows, that will give a flat, 2-dimensional effect. Select highlights, this will pull out lighter details and give a more 3-D effect.
Choose your brush size according to the subject - a huge brush to enhance for example a large area of rocks or foliage, a very small brush if working on lettering in an engraving, or individual stems of a plant.
Similarly for the burn tool - 3% exposure and build up the effect, choose brush size carefully; and try selecting shadows, particularly in a foreground area - it will enhance textures.
If you add a layer mask holding down the Alt key whilst you click on the layer palette's 'new layer' icon you will get a dialogue box which enables you to add a new layer. If you change the 'Mode' to 'Overlay' , and then tick the little box underneath the 'Mode' this will give you a 50% grey adjustment layer.
Then you have the ability to not only vary the strength of your dodge/burn brush you can also lower the opacity of the adjustment layer to give you much more control over the shading or highlights which you wish to change.
Then you have the ability to not only vary the strength of your dodge/burn brush you can also lower the opacity of the adjustment layer to give you much more control over the shading or highlights which you wish to change.
