Photoshop Elements >

Patterns for Burning & Dodging

This tutorial was adapted from Take the easy way out for a change (PDF) by Chris Tarantino.

Here's a handy way to burn and dodge.

You use the Multiply and Screen blending modes.

You can also paint any other blending mode onto your photograph.

Create a Pattern

1) Go Edit > Define Pattern to create a pattern of your photograph.

Multiply & Screen Layers

2) Create two blank layers.

3) Rename them as Multiply/Burn and Screen/Dodge.

4) Change their blending modes to Multiply and Screen.

Multiply/Burn

Screen/Dodge

Background copy

Background

Make More Multiply & Screen Layers

You may want to make more Multiply and Screen layers.

For example, you can use:

• Multiply/Burn layer A for the sky.

• Multiply/Burn layer B for the ocean.

5) Select the Multiply/Burn layer and press Ctrl +j.

6) Select the Screen/Dodge layer and press Ctrl +j.

As you use these layers, rename them, such as Sky Burn and Ocean Burn.

Burn & Dodge

7) Select the Pattern Stamp tool, which is in the tool family with the Clone Stamp tool.

8) In the options bar, open the Pattern Picker.

Pattern Picker

9) Scroll down and double click on the tiny image of your photograph.

10) To burn, select the Multiply layer and brush.

11) To dodge, select the Screen layer and brush.

12) Adjust the burning and dodging by changing the opacities of the Multiply and Screen layers.

Other Blending Modes

You can create new blank layers, with different blending modes, such as Soft Light.

Do the following to discover what the other blending modes do.

1) Create a blank layer.

2) Brush on your photograph.

There won't be any change.

3) Select the Move tool.

4) Press and hold Shift, and press the + key to change from one blending mode to another.

The area you brushed will change.

Remember

• The above keyboard shortcut only works when the Move tool is selected.

• As you cycle through the blending modes, you're seeing them at full strength.

You can lower the opacity of the layer to reduce the effect.