Dodging
and Burning' are essential techniques to finish
off any black and white image, especially useful for
atmospheric or moody images. This is a fantastic
method of producing black and white Landscapes in
particular. It's a fairly simple technique that
requires an image editing program like Photoshop,
but most good editing programs have a 'Dodging &
Burning' tool, which aren't too difficult to use. In
simple terms, dodging and burning is a process of
improving the light (dodging) or dark (burning)
areas of a black and white image (mono). You can
apply this technique to pictures digital images
taken in black and white, or to those taken in
colour and converted to mono later. It's great for
improving contrasts and producing striking
areas within the picture, however it's important to
remember that although dodging and burning can be
used to improve an image, it cannot work miracles,
so your original image must be of a decent quality
to begin with. We always suggest taking time to get
the shot right when you take the snap. It'll make
any editing easier and ultimately produce a better
final image.
So
how do we use the 'Dodging & Burning' technique?
Firstly open your picture in a digital editing
program and find the Dodging & Burning Tool. You
might like to use the programs 'auto contrast' or
'one click fix' button first. This may just improve
your image slightly before you start the dodging and
burning. Its normally a good idea to let the program
balance your image first in this way.
If you are able, it will be useful be to print a
copy of your image first and mark the areas you want
to enhance. A paper copy is easier to work with than
the on screen version. Mark the areas of the printed
version that are highlights and shadow. When Dodging
& Burning you are trying to increase the contrasts
in the picture, so having lots of grey areas isn't
the desired effect. Also do not overkill the area
selections.
Choose
a few areas you think could be improved, but be
selective. Dodging & Burning should be very subtle
so use no more than 6% opacity on the brush,
and be sure to use lots of sweeping strokes to keep
the effect even and blended. Using large brushes
helps too, around 400 to 500 diameter soft
brushes are best. The opacity and brush settings are
variable in all editing programs that allow dodging
and burning, so don't worry if your not sure what
this means. You'll spot them when you select the
dodge and burn tool. Most importantly, remember to
only ever 'dodge' highlights and only ever 'burn'
mid-tones and shadows. If you try to burn
highlights you'll end up with a horrible dirty grey
result, and dodging shadows and mid-tones only
creates noise in the image, neither of which looks
good.
Using the subtle settings mentioned above, apply the
Dodging & Burning tool to the image ONLY on the
areas you previously chose on the paper copy. Please
don't get carried away with this as the final result
will look harsh and artificial! Stick to the areas
you chose and then once your done, print the image!
Photo-paper and high quality printer settings will
display your hard work best.
You
may not notice too much difference..until you place
your final print next to the original print. You'll
be amazed at the improvement! Finally, this is a
guide to standard 'Dodging & Burning' but as with
every aspect of digital photography, experiment for
your self! Try different images, try different
opacities and try different brush types! The more
you experiment and practice, the better you'll
become, and the better you'll be at identifying
areas of images that would benefit most from a
little Dodging & Burning!
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Dodging
and Burning' are essential techniques to finish
off any black and white image, especially useful for
atmospheric or moody images. This is a fantastic
method of producing black and white Landscapes in
particular. It's a fairly simple technique that
requires an image editing program like Photoshop,
but most good editing programs have a 'Dodging &
Burning' tool, which aren't too difficult to use. In
simple terms, dodging and burning is a process of
improving the light (dodging) or dark (burning)
areas of a black and white image (mono). You can
apply this technique to pictures digital images
taken in black and white, or to those taken in
colour and converted to mono later. It's great for
improving contrasts and producing striking
areas within the picture, however it's important to
remember that although dodging and burning can be
used to improve an image, it cannot work miracles,
so your original image must be of a decent quality
to begin with. We always suggest taking time to get
the shot right when you take the snap. It'll make
any editing easier and ultimately produce a better
final image.
So
how do we use the 'Dodging & Burning' technique?
Firstly open your picture in a digital editing
program and find the Dodging & Burning Tool. You
might like to use the programs 'auto contrast' or
'one click fix' button first. This may just improve
your image slightly before you start the dodging and
burning. Its normally a good idea to let the program
balance your image first in this way. 
Choose
a few areas you think could be improved, but be
selective. Dodging & Burning should be very subtle
so use no more than 6% opacity on the brush,
and be sure to use lots of sweeping strokes to keep
the effect even and blended. Using large brushes
helps too, around 400 to 500 diameter soft
brushes are best. The opacity and brush settings are
variable in all editing programs that allow dodging
and burning, so don't worry if your not sure what
this means. You'll spot them when you select the
dodge and burn tool. Most importantly, remember to
only ever 'dodge' highlights and only ever 'burn'
mid-tones and shadows. If you try to burn
highlights you'll end up with a horrible dirty grey
result, and dodging shadows and mid-tones only
creates noise in the image, neither of which looks
good.
You
may not notice too much difference..until you place
your final print next to the original print. You'll
be amazed at the improvement! Finally, this is a
guide to standard 'Dodging & Burning' but as with
every aspect of digital photography, experiment for
your self! Try different images, try different
opacities and try different brush types! The more
you experiment and practice, the better you'll
become, and the better you'll be at identifying
areas of images that would benefit most from a
little Dodging & Burning! 
