Using the Dodge & Burn Technique for Professional Photoshop

Learn this traditional darkroom technique in Photoshop for fine art-quality portraiture results

Are you curious about what it takes to get flawless, striking but still natural-looking portraits? Expert photographers use the classic Dodge (lighten) and Burn (darken) technique in selected areas on an image to enhance the definition of their work and play creatively in light and shadow. Thanks to Photoshop, this creative process is easily accessible, allowing you to realize your unique vision to convey mood through dramatic composition and exposure. In this course you will take a deep dive into Dodging & Burning, as together we retouch a series of portraits so you can experience firsthand the artistic power of this modern take on a traditional technique.
Skills You Will Gain
Master Advanced Dodge & Burn
You will learn how to prepare your photo for the edit by enhancing definition and adding more depth and contrast with the Dodge & Burn technique — the "heart" of any efficient retouching effort. You’ll achieve subtle yet deep nuances in your work using this time-tested method.
Corrective Dodge & Burn
At the corrective stage, together we’ll work with large magnification and focus primarily on perfecting surfaces in the photos such as smoothing skin texture. The work takes precision and patience, but the results are well worth it: totally transformed, gorgeous images.
Contouring Dodge & Burn
The second stage of Dodge & Burn is contouring, which many photographers consider “the fun part.” During contouring, we will work with global enhancement of light and shadow in the image — the effect is increased contrast and a greater sense of depth and volume. There is a fine line between an enhanced, effective image and overdone, fake-looking final effect, and we’ll discuss how to achieve the former and avoid the latter.
Non-Destructive Workflow
Learn how to combine masks and adjustment layers to bring your artistic vision to life without compromising flexibility. You’ll be able to create fresh versions of one photo in no time, or revisit your artwork in the future to bring new ideas to life with just a handful of strategic adjustments.
Color Work Finish: Gel Lighting Effect
Add style to your image and get the artistic look by adding dramatic coloured effect inspired by theatre and cinematography. By introducing strong, flashy colors, we will create images with a twist — provocative, vibrant portraits, pulsating with energy. You will learn the complete color grading process with the Color Fill and Selective Color Adjustment Layers combined with Photoshop Masks to achieve an eye-grabbing effect.