Hey all,


My question is regarding D&B for skin tones. I have read through some of the various threads regarding the subject but needed some further clarification.

Lately I have been using the Curves method of D&B but would like to try the other method I have been hearing so much about (50% grey layer). My first question is do you use this layer with a Mask or just paint directly onto the fill layer?

I have also recently been working on some lower resolution images (get spoiled working on high resolution images lol) and wanted to hear your thoughts on when I should or should not use D&B.

Thanks!

you can either paint with black and white or use dodge and burn directly on to the 50% grey soft light layer...

It is not necessary to use a layer mask on a D&B layer (50% gray set to one of the 7 blend modes in which 50% gray produces no changes). In effect the 50% gray acts like a mask.
D&B layers are typically used for selectively dodging and burning specific spots or areas of an image. They are also used where the adjustments are typically not extreme.
For global changes it is often more efficient to use Shadow/Highlight, Curves, levels, etc and with or without a layer mask.
Like everything else in Photoshop, there are often many tools, adjustments, and work flows used to achieve the exact same end result.
Regards, Murray

Cool thanks! Doing Curves D&B as I have been doing works ok but I like the added control that the Grey layer method seems to have. How much different is it going to feel doing it this way vs the other method I used before?

whats the curves method?

the only way I DnB is through the 50% gray in softlight blend with very low opacity (3-5% and 50% flow). In other blend modes I feel like it becomes to extreme and color can begin to oversaturate or posterize more easily. The only other method Im aware of is using to layers one black and one white and setting them to color dodge and burn blend modes but that I also leads to oversaturation when burning.

The reason why I, not speaking for anyone but me because I dont know, is to shape a face by highlighting highlights and shadowing shadows to shape a face, more defined. Adds more depth to a photo, when used throughout the photo and not just the skin.

thats my penny of advice.

nevermind I got what the curve method is. I still want to stick with the 50%

I used the Grey layer on this image I am working on and its soo much easier then the the curves method lol. Love it!