How to Dodge and Burn in Photoshop. Full course on painting with light and shadow

Shadow and Light, How to Dodge and Burn in Photoshop

2hs 30min running time
Photoshop CC (Works on Any version of Photoshop)
All photos and bonus action included
Mac + Windows

Have you ever looked at photographs that you admire, and wondered how they get such depth and clearly defined lighting and shadow? Maybe you have tried every post production tool you know and are unable to reproduce this effect. The secret is Dodging and Burning. All the top photographers have been doing it all along, many just didn’t tell you.

In this training, Colin Smith explains exactly what dodging and burning is (Painting with shadow and light). These principles aren’t new, they come all the way from renaissance painters and have been adapted by the likes of Ansel Adams in darkrooms. The techniques, however are new; Photoshop opens up new possibilities with its powerful brush and adjustment tools that the masters of old would have killed for. There are 3 main reasons to dodge and burn: Lead the viewers eye with darks/lights, bring out details in photos and add depth and dimension. You will learn all three methods.

In a jargon-free, conversational tone (that Colin is well-known for), you will understand not only the how’s behind non-destructive dodging and burning, but the why’s. Colin will take the mystery out of where to dodge and where to burn a photo for the maximum results.

The 2.5 hour visual journey will equip you to tackle any dodging and burning retouching task. These techniques apply to everything from landscape, portrait, beauty, fashion, to fine art, product, architectural, fitness and advertising retouching tasks, any photo really.

The techniques are powerful enough for pros and easy enough for hobbyists. This seemingly complex task is broken down to a fast and easy workflow. While working on different photos, this workflow will be drilled into your mind. These movies are recorded in Photoshop CC, but these timeless tips will work on any version of Photoshop. All lesson files are included

Don’t settle for flat images, invest in your photos with Shadow and Highlight, How to Dodge and Burn in Photoshop!

Watch Trailer here

Fundamentals and setup

Shading Basics

Learn how shadows and highlights define 3D surfaces and shapes. Use shadow and highlight to create depth and texture. Shading primer.

Layer Setup

How to set up layers and blend modes for non destructive Dodging and Burning, make a reusable action

Brush Setup

How to set up dodging and Burning brushes to work with pen pressure. This is useful for Wacom, Surface Pro, iPad Pro and mouse users.

Dodge and Burn Workflow

Jump headfirst into a project and learn the workflow, start to finish.

Strategies for adding shadow and where to highlight

Set the overall tone and mood for the image

Carve out parts of the photo to make them pop

Adding Dimension

Add shadow and light to give lots of dimension and depth to a flat image

The shadows define and simplify the shapes

Highlights force areas towards the viewers eye and give them life

Make your photos look 3D

Body Sculpting

Using this image of a body builder, learn how to sculpt muscles and enhance a body shape

Carve out the muscles and add separation

Smooth out the body shape

Make muscles look massive and flatten out other areas

Contour and Highlight a face

This is based off Contour and Highlight makeup, this is retouching at it’s best

A lot of the Hollywood stars, do contouring and highlight to their makeup. This is actually dodging and burning in real life! Learn to recreate this effect digitally in Photoshop.

Smoothen out skin tones without blurring

Enhance certain features, while diminishing others

A natural way to really light up a face and define the shape of facial features