Basic D&B questions...

[Eric J]

Hello, I have a few question about dodge and burn. What's better, filling the layer mask with black or 50% gray? Also, can the actual dodge and burn tools be used, or just a white paint brush. Lastly, do I have to set the layer to soft light or can it stay set to normal? Sorry if my questions seem simple....Thanks!

[skauskas]

For me personally
50% grey is better than curves
real db tools - not for me. I saw somebody was using them but the result is awful
better soft light

[Anneke]

Originally Posted by Eric J

Hello, I have a few question about dodge and burn. What's better, filling the layer mask with black or 50% gray? Also, can the actual dodge and burn tools be used, or just a white paint brush. Lastly, do I have to set the layer to soft light or can it stay set to normal? Sorry if my questions seem simple....Thanks!

If you use the 50% gray layer and you don't put it to soft light, all you'll see is a gray layer...
If you use curves then you off course should not use soft light.

[julianmarsalis]

Originally Posted by Eric J

Hello, I have a few question about dodge and burn. What's better, filling the layer mask with black or 50% gray? Also, can the actual dodge and burn tools be used, or just a white paint brush. Lastly, do I have to set the layer to soft light or can it stay set to normal? Sorry if my questions seem simple....Thanks!

I think you are confusing the 2 methods:

Method 1 softlight:
You fill a layer with 50% grey and set it to softlight paint on the layer with white or black varying the brushes opacity and flow of the brush for me 5% with 100% flow really about taste and your touch.

Method 2 curves
Basically create a curves layer 1 for dodge and one for burn add a layer mask filled with black and paint white varying the brushes opacity for the desired effect ie Dodge lighten or burn darken. These layers remain normal.

[mileeeeeeenaaaa]

what i do is

fill a new layer with 50 percent grey
set blending mode to soft light
use black and white paintbrushes set to a low opacity to "dodge and burn"

[ashphotoart]

and I do

1. Fill a new layer with 50 percent grey
2. Set blending mode to soft light
3. Use real DODGE and BURN toll instead of Black/white brush set to a low opacity. (sometimes use blac or white brush for d&B too.)

4. if necessary Dual Curve method is good for some larger areas.

Ash

[Cuervo79]

There are tons of different ways do do D&B
You can also use 2 solid color layers 1 set to white 1 set to black, you fill with black both masks on the layers and use them on soft light. I like this method better because of the separation, if there is a time I need to reset just the dodge part of the process I have it separate from the burn part.
I have seen that darken and lighten work as well but even when I have the opacity at 15% it dodges or burns too fast so I only use it in case I need to go whiter or darker since the limits when using lighten or darken is pure white or pure black.

[DJSoulglo]

The one that you find easiest to use, that yields the best result. That's the best one.

Try them all!!!

Dual Curves/Soft Light Grey Layer/Overlay Grey Layer/Flattened file and the actual D&B tools.


Try them all and see what you like best.