Portrait Editing
Dodge and Burn for Portrait Photographers: The Complete Guide
Dodge and burn is the oldest retouching technique in photography — darkroom printers have been doing it since the 1800s. And it’s still the most powerful tool in a digital retoucher’s arsenal. Why Dodge and Burn? Unlike frequency separation or blur-based techniques, dodge and burn gives you pixel-level control over luminosity. You’re literally painting with light and shadow. This means you can: Smooth skin while preserving 100% of the texture Sculpt facial features Add dimension and depth Direct the viewer’s eye Setting Up Your Dodge and Burn Layers I use two gray layers for non-destructive editing:
