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As Photoshop was originally intended to enhance the output of the darkroom, it's not surprising to find that many processes involved in the more traditional aspects of photography have found their way into the digital way of doing things. The Dodge Tool is one such process. In the traditional manner, the dodge tool was used to lighten specific areas of an image. This involved physically holding back light on certain areas, so as to further expose darker areas and bring out detail that otherwise might be lost. Fortunately, Photoshop allows us to do this now without locking ourselves away in a darkened room for hours to get the process right.
The DODGE TOOL may be found on the Tool Palette. It is highlighted, seven positions down the right hand side of the Palette. 
This tool also comes with the Burn and Sponge Tools in the same area. By clicking on one and holding down, you can highlight either one as you need it. 
As with all tools, Photoshop provides options on the use of the tool. If this is not on your screen go to WINDOW>OPTIONS and it will be seen across the top of your workspace. 
These options include Brush Size - click on the down arrow and you can choose the size, hardness or softness of the tool (the word "brush" is often used for types of tools used in Photoshop). In the screenshot below, I have chosen a soft, feathered brush of size 17 and its size can be seen in the little circle at the bottom of the window. To see your brush size, simply move the brush onto the workspace area. 
The second option offered by Photoshop is that of choosing the RANGE - to dodge either the Shadows, Midtones or Highlights. Obviously, by dodging the shadows, the image will lighten. The level to which this is done is controlled by the third option given by Photoshop, that of EXPOSURE. This option can be seen next to the Range option in the screenshot above. It is best to keep the level of exposure low to about 5% as the effect will be very obvious if high levels are used. 
This is the before and after effect of using the dodge tool on my "boatmen.jpg". Working with the tool is the best way of becoming familiar with its capabilities. So, off you go and experiment Author: Harry Reynolds Discuss this article on the forums. (0 posts) |
