Dodge and Burn Technique

[ruud92]

Originally Posted by jvr

ruud92, I'd love to know the step-by-step you use to get those good texture skins in your samples. I've noticed that you also have good sharpen in the hairs.

Could you give us a tutorial along with the PSD jaroslav requested?

It'll be much appreciated.

thanks!, but im not going to write a tut. because i use the same technique as the tut. in this post i will post the psd file tomorrow when i have the time.

[pixelzombie]

Originally Posted by pixel_monkey

PSD file is too big for this forum and I didn't feel like hosting it somewhere that's going to get deleted in a few weeks. Here are 2 jpegs. Put the grey one on top of the color one and set its blend mode to Soft Light to see the result. Notice there's some color in grey image. I always try to sample my black from the pupil, hair, or nostril to avoid skin discoloration during D+B. When that didn't work, I just sample the color from the surrounding skin area and paint over. I used a regular soft brush at normal mode with opacity at 3% and flow at 40% with an Intuos 3 and went to town with it...no trick. You can set it at whatever % you prefer as long as you're comfortable in controlling it. I D+B as much as 60% with the Graphire tablet.

looks good, but i still wish you posted the psd file...

[ruud92]

Here it is: The PSD file!

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0UR6YNRM

Please respect the copyrights.

I hope i helped you with this!

notice: this was my first (Try at) dodge and burn file, so i worked allot of hours on it.. haha

[SteveB2005]

Hey Ruud, thanks for posting your tutorial guide layered PS file. I think this will help take the mystic out of applying D&B. Like everyone has said, there are no short cuts to this type of retouching

Almost forgot, how long did you spend on this image?

steve

[ruud92]

you're welcome, ehm, i don't know, but since it was the first time i (so far i can remember) about 3 days, something like 6 hours, now i do it in 2/3 hours.

[pixel_monkey]

Originally Posted by pixelzombie

looks good, but i still wish you posted the psd file...

My psd (actually, tiff) files are really simple. Most of them contain only 5 layers. The background layer is a smart object that I process from camera raw into the tiff. The 2nd layer is a normal background copy layer where I do minor clean up, such as dust, tiny hair on skin, large blemishes, etc... I also tend to merge all the facial reconstruction adjustments, eyes enhancement, or whatever else before I D+B onto that layer as well. The 3rd layer is the Soft Light 50% grey layer where I do all the major skin work and shading with D+B. The 4th layer is just a sharpen layer. And the 5th layer is a curve adj. layer for colors, highlights, and contrasts.

What I posted here are the 2nd and 3rd layer.

[nadeena]

hi
ruud92 really ur work is ver very very nice and also your website
i wish to be i like u :S
regards for all

[ruud92]

haha, well thanks!

[jvr]

Thank you very much ruud92!

The sample is of great help. When I asked for a tutorial, I just wanted to know the steps for this technique. I suppose this technique uses curves for both, dodging and burning, but I see in you sample that you use black filled layers in soft light mode for burning.

Thanks for sharing the techniques!

[ruud92]

Originally Posted by jvr

Thank you very much ruud92!

The sample is of great help. When I asked for a tutorial, I just wanted to know the steps for this technique. I suppose this technique uses curves for both, dodging and burning, but I see in you sample that you use black filled layers in soft light mode for burning.

Thanks for sharing the techniques!

youre welcome!

jup thats right i think back then that way worked better for me (I guess)

nice to know that i helped you out with this!

[Canna W]

I really found this useful - thank you!

[jaroslav]

Ok. I think that now I know how to use d&b.

Videos from lynda.com are very helpful




http://movielibrary.lynda.com/html/modPage.asp?ID=566

[pianogrl697]

In reference to this tutorial: http://retouchpro.com/tutorials/?m=show&id=272

I don't understand why I am not seeing that "black" fill with the little white strokes?

http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/...eLayerMask.jpg

I think I set up everything okay - but I am lost somehow...how do I play with the layers so that I see the black fill with the white strokes so I can what I'm doing? I'm assuming that's the retouching part.

I'd appreciate any tips - I'm new to this! Thanks!!

[mistermonday]

Pianogrl, what you are referring to is viewing a full size view of the mask. To do so, hold down you Alt key while clicking on the Mask icon to the right of the layer icon in the layers palette. This will give you a full size view of the mask. To rethurn to the standard layer / image view, just alt + Click the mask icon again and it will toggle back.
Regards, Murray

[amica999]

Originally Posted by pianogrl697

In reference to this tutorial: http://retouchpro.com/tutorials/?m=show&id=272

I don't understand why I am not seeing that "black" fill with the little white strokes?

http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/...eLayerMask.jpg

I think I set up everything okay - but I am lost somehow...how do I play with the layers so that I see the black fill with the white strokes so I can what I'm doing? I'm assuming that's the retouching part.

I'd appreciate any tips - I'm new to this! Thanks!!

Hi again, maybe you want to have a look here: http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/pho...torial-up.html

[pianogrl697]

Wow, thanks! I'll set it all up and try again.

When I start to use the brush to work on the dodge layer, nothing appears - but I'll try a different Opacity & Flow combo, lol.

[Laura_]

Originally Posted by ruud92

I know she doesn't use the dodge and burn technique, she did know it was a technique but she hasn't used it before, and must learn it to. ( i had that talk with her after she had post that picture) and since she has on her deviant art a tutorial doing skin were she says she use median, it must be median because in a threat here she says she don't use blur! and that pic doesn't look like there was used dodge and burn

Hey, jusk ask me if you want to know something and don't just talk out of no where -_-
Retouch 64 is a really old one, and no i did not use d&b back then.
It's a horrible retouch and i should remove it.
i do use d&b now

oh and by the way, i also removed that tutorial

[harrywinston]

im trying to make skin glow like some of amy dresser photoes pls tell me how i cant seem that nfo i try everything my images just dont seem to have that pop

[gamedonechanged]

Is this technique used for smoothing skin texture or highlights?

[gamedonechanged]

This may sound like a wierd question but why is this tutorial called Dodge and Burn technique? The dogdge and burn tools are not even being used and the blend mode of the curves adjustment layers are not even set to any blend mode (colour burn/colour dodge).

[mistermonday]

Gamedonechanged, D&B refers to the concepts of lightening and darkening respectively. There are a considerable number of ways to accomplish D&B. The D&B tools in the Tool Bar are actual the least used method because they do not offer the most accurate control and they are not easily reversible.
Three of the most popular methods of D&B are:

1. "light" and a "dark" Curve Adjustment layers (one for each) set to Soft Light (or sometimes Overlay, Darken, Lighten) blend mode - must almost always to Soft Light.

2. A Layer filled with 50% Gray and Soft Light Blend mode. This single layer is used for both dodging and burning.

3. A solid color adjustment layer - one for D and the other for B both set to Soft Light Blend mode.

Depending on which method you use, some color shifting will occur during the process. This is often corrected with a new layer set to Color blend mode and selectively painted.

Regards, Murray

[gamedonechanged]

Thanks mistermonday. Prior to finding this site I had used something similar to 2 only I had 1 layer set to colour dodge and the other set to colour burn. Both flled with 50% neautral colour.

The tutorial on page 1 of this thread seems to use something similar to 1 only the layers are set to normal.

One thing I have noticed this is quite a lengthy process but so far even doing small areas I can see how powerful it can be. On my practice piece I am up to the stage where I have lightened all the dark areas that were causing patchy areas on the girls skin so now I have to start the shading and lighting process. It's a great technique although my finger hurts. I should be getting a tablet soon though.

[mistermonday]

Sorry, I had a brain burp. The curves method layers are usually set to normal and you paint on the masks to modulate the effect. The process is often slow and tedious but produces professional results over blurring techniques.

[artist1961]

i am on a dail up so just cannot upload psd file

ok i have removed the file as request by u my point was that this can be done other way also

sorry if you felt bad


you did a great finishing work

thanks for that

[ruud92]

Originally Posted by artist1961

i am on a dail up so just cannot upload psd file

but here is my work


cs2 used blur tool with masks layers

Please remove this file. You are not authorized to use it since my logo is on it, because of that it looks now like 'I' did this work. And i don't want that since 1. it isn't my work 2. you blurred it and posted in a thread about dodge and burn 3. the file was only an example to show, not to work on. Please use some other file to practice on, this .PSD file was just to show people how dodge and burn works.

Thank you.
___________

[gamedonechanged]

Ruud can you or someone advise me on this.

Ok on my practice piece of the tutorial I have gotten to the part where I have lightened all the dark spots that were making the skin look patchy. Now the part where it says take a bigger brush and brush on the curves layers accordingley. This is referring to shading and lighting now right?

[ruud92]

Originally Posted by artist1961

i am on a dail up so just cannot upload psd file

ok i have removed the file as request by u my point was that this can be done other way also

sorry if you felt bad


you did a great finishing work

thanks for that

Thank you for understanding

thanks! you really should learn the dodge and burn technique, believe me you'll love it.

[ruud92]

Originally Posted by gamedonechanged

Ruud can you or someone advise me on this.

Ok on my practice piece of the tutorial I have gotten to the part where I have lightened all the dark spots that were making the skin look patchy. Now the part where it says take a bigger brush and brush on the curves layers accordingley. This is referring to shading and lighting now right?

I believe it is just try what comes out good to you!

[Andrew Lawrence]

Originally Posted by gamedonechanged

Ruud can you or someone advise me on this.

Ok on my practice piece of the tutorial I have gotten to the part where I have lightened all the dark spots that were making the skin look patchy. Now the part where it says take a bigger brush and brush on the curves layers accordingley. This is referring to shading and lighting now right?

Yes it could be, I also find that if I do a lot of detailed dodging and burning close up that it evens out certain areas in sections so that the skin becomes brighter in some areas and darker in others on a larger scale, and I often later have to go over this with a larger brush to even out those areas but I use a much lower opacity. GET A TABLET! There's really no point in D&B without a tablet. You'll be so relieved, trust me.

[gamedonechanged]

Yeah a tablet is next on my list of things to get. I just got a new imac so still getting to grips with switching over from a PC.

Thanks