My Complete Dodging and Burning Workflow in Lightroom/ACR and Photoshop

Lightroom/ACR

Table of Contents

1:43Determining the Mood/Intent
3:54Basic Tonal Adjustments
5:52Burning the Sky
9:58Local Dodging and Burning with the Brush
12:44Radial and Graduated Filters
14:21Tone Curve
15:33Color Dodging and Burning

Photoshop

Table of Contents

0:00Overview of the Dodging and Burning Workflow
2:43Setting Up the Burn Layer
5:37Why a Solid Color Adjustment Layer is Better than a 50% Grey Layer
10:53Using Curves to Add More Texture
13:35Setting Up the Dodge Layer for Light Painting
16:18Color Dodging and Burning
18:36Using Luminosity Masks to Prevent Washed Out Contrast
20:44Using Dissimilar Colors to Dodge and Burn a Color Image
23:37Tips on Burning a Color Image
26:27The Benefits of Using Curves to Dodge and Burn
29:54Repurposing Layer Masks

Dodging and Burning …

This is the most effective Photoshop technique for directing the eye through the frame. By manipulating light and shadow, we can literally draw a path for the eyes to follow by subduing distractions and enhancing our focal points. When done correctly, you can transform a strong composition into something extraordinary.

Because this is a powerful technique, the risk for side effects is also great. Muddy detail, loss of contrast, unwanted color shifts…these are all things you need to compensate for when dodging and burning. And sometimes, you may not even be aware that you are damaging your image until it’s too late.

So for this tutorial, I’d like to show you my new dodging and burning workflow that accomplishes two very important things:

  1. Minimizes the unwanted side effects of dodging and burning by protecting your image, and
  2. Grants you the most creative freedom while retaining the highest quality detail.

Both Lightroom and Photoshop have unique strengths and weaknesses…so depending on the image and your creative intent, you may be better off working in one program over the other (or perhaps a bit of both).

This lesson is pulled directly from Light and Shadow, my brand-new course on advanced-level dodging and burning for landscape photography…designed for those who would like to create more atmospheric images in Lightroom and Photoshop!

Learn How to Create Photographs in Lightroom and Photoshop

Welcome!

Here you will find a collection of all my articles, guides, eBooks, and mini-courses on landscape photography….specifically, how to creatively process your images in Lightroom and Photoshop.

Most of these guides are in-depth and explore the best processing tools specifically for landscape and nature photographers. My philosophy is to find the best darkroom techniques and truly master them as opposed to becoming a “jack of all trades, master of none”.

Be prepared! These are not light reads. However, they will show you exactly how these techniques work under the hood…and more importantly, show you the “why” behind it all, so you can incorporate them into your own workflow easily.

Check back often as I will be updating this page when new material is available.

First, complete your Darkroom Scorecard.

The most important step you can take right now to improve the quality of your processing is to gauge your current skills in the darkroom…which will tell you exactly what you should focus on next for the biggest gains in your workflow. This Darkroom Scorecard has been designed to help you figure out exactly that.

Darkroom Scorecard

It will take you about 10 minutes to complete, and I promise the results will reveal A LOT about where your workflow bottlenecks, and how to overcome it.

To start, click the button below and then click “File > Make a copy” and save it for yourself…and then fill out your score LIVE in the spreadsheet.

Once you’re done filling out the scores, take a moment to record the reasons for why you gave yourself the score you did. This will lead you to some useful insights.

Finally, if you want some guidance on what you should work on next in the darkroom, send me your scorecard by emailing me at support at creativeraw dot com with the subject line “Scorecard”.

Landscape Field Techniques

These tutorials focus on specialized field techniques for landscape photography.

Creativity in the Darkroom

Learn the Principles of Photoshop

For landscape photographers, there are only four main concepts you need to know: layers, masks, smart objects, and luminosity masks. And once you learn them, even the most advanced techniques (like dodging and burning or exposure blending) will make total sense.

I’ve simplified these pillars of Photoshop into easy-to-follow guides that you can start reading right now. 

Layers and Layer Masks

Smart Objects

Discover exactly how smart objects protect your image from permanent damage and allow you to maintain a completely non-destructive workflow, and more importantly why this is necessary if you’re serious about image quality.

Luminosity Masks

Tools to Use for Better Processing

Once you learn the four pillars of Photoshop (above), you should get acquainted with the best tools for Lightroom and Photoshop to guide and enhance your processing workflow. Note that the Lightroom lessons can also apply to ACR if you’d like to keep a Photostop-only workflow.

Curves in Lightroom and Photoshop

Basic Concepts of Light and Shadow

Exposure Blending

Backing Up Your Image Files

Creating Depth and Dimension in Lightroom and Photoshop

Table of Contents

1:25How Contrast Influences Depth
2:53Supporting Tones Can Enhance or Subdue a Focal Point
5:29How Color (Hue) Contrast Influences the Dominance
7:04Color Temperature and Depth
8:03Color Saturation and Interest
9:43How Texture Contrast Creates Depth
11:39Bringing It Together: How to Create Depth With Color and Contrast

Note: This is a continuation of Contrast, Luminosity, and Color. If you haven’t watched that lesson yet, you can do so here.

Depth and Dimension…

The relationship between contrast, luminosity, and color is very delicate, and even a small change can completely alter the flow and balance of your composition.

For example: darkening the shadows will automatically push more attention towards your highlights, making that a heavier focal point. Also, brighter tones appear closer than darker, which can either enhance or flatten the perceived depth of your image.

What I’ve found is that many photographers aren’t fully aware of how these relationships influence the depth and dimension o your photograph…and will often note that their image now seems “off” after a simple adjustment.

So for this lesson, let’s dive into some real-world examples of how contrast (texture), color, and tone can manipulate the perceived distances between your focal points…and how to enhance or subdue the illusion of depth in a two-dimensional medium.

This is a fun exploration into the basics of image processing…and after the lesson, I think you’ll see your images in a completely different light (both literally and figuratively).

The lesson above is just a small sample of what you’ll find in The Darkroom for Landscapes…my private mentorship program for Lightroom and Photoshop.

If you’d like to become more comfortable, more competent, and more confident with Lightroom and Photoshop than you’ve ever been…click the link above to find out more.

The Lightroom to Photoshop Roundtrip

Table of Contents

0:58Configuring Lightroom to Send the Image
3:34Configuring Photoshop to Receive the Image
4:49Configuring Photoshop to Send the Image Back to Lightroom
5:53“Edit in Photoshop” vs. “Open as Smart Object in Photoshop”
9:24Saving and Sending the Photoshop File Back to Lightroom
10:34Using Lightroom to Find the Photoshop File
11:35Why the Raw File in Photoshop Will Not Update When you Change the Raw File in Lightroom
13:06How to Update the Raw File in Photoshop with New Changes Made in Lightroom
14:34Lesson Summary

One pillar of my processing workflow that has stood the test of time is using both Lightroom and Photoshop together.

By leveraging the strengths of both programs instead of choosing one over the other…your workflow becomes faster, simpler, and immensely powerful. 

For me, Lightroom is where I perform most of my raw processing, image organization, and print management. All of my raw files are brought into Lightroom first, and everything stays tidy and organized.

However, for those special photographs that deserve extra attention… Photoshop is much better suited for heavy lifting. 

Unfortunately, many photographers send their images from Lightroom to Photoshop incorrectly…and there’s quite a mess to untangle once they realize it.

Or they neglect to bring the Photoshop file back to Lightroom for organization, and eventually lose track of it.

Here’s what we’ll discuss in the following lesson:

  • How to properly configure Lightroom to send your photo over to Photoshop.
  • How to properly configure Photoshop to receive your photo.
  • The best method for sending a file over to Photoshop from Lightroom to preserve detail and color.
  • How to send a Photoshop file back to Lightroom for easier organization.
  • How to update the photo in Photoshop with changes you’ve made in Lightroom after you’ve already sent it over.

“The Darkroom” is Now Open for Enrollment

The Darkroom

The lesson above is just a small sample of what you’ll find in The Darkroom for Landscapes…my private mentorship program for Lightroom and Photoshop.

After more than a year of planning and development, here’s the result: an all-inclusive program that, at its essence, is going to bring a lot of fun to the digital darkroom.

If you’d like to become more comfortable, more competent, and more confident with Lightroom and Photoshop than you’ve ever been…

I encourage you to see if The Darkroom is right for you, because it’s a lot simpler than you think.

P.S. The “grand opening” discount is still available (for now).

Complete Guide to White Balance in Lightroom and Photoshop

Table of Contents

0:59The Importance of Setting White Balance In-Camera
2:04White Balance For Neutralizing Color Shifts
3:53Adjusting Temperature and Tint will Intensify the R, G and/or B Channels
5:59Using the Target Adjustment Tool for Setting “Neutral Grey”
7:42Setting the White Balance Manually by Adjusting Temperature and Tint
11:07How to More Easily See Your Colors When Setting the White Balance
12:07Additional Tips and Precautions When Adjusting White Balance
13:54Enhancing the Mood and Atmosphere by Adjusting White Balance
15:47Lesson Summary

White Balance …

White balance sets the foundation for your color and tonal work (even if you choose black and white treatment)…so it’s much more than simply setting the “mood” of your image. It’s directly related to image quality and clarity, which is why you want to set your white balance at the very start of your processing workflow (whether in Lightroom or Photoshop).

A common misconception is that if you shoot in raw format, then you don’t need to set your in-camera white balance and can simply “fix it in post”. I still recommend setting your white balance in the field since a wildly different Kelvin value from what you’re photographing can affect the accuracy of your in-camera histogram. Regardless, chances are you’ll still need some white balance tweaking once you evaluate your image more closely in the darkroom. 

Setting your white balance in Lightroom or ACR is extremely easy; just press “W” and click once. However, the key to using this tool quickly and accurately depends on two things:

  1. Knowing exactly how this tool analyzes your image, and
  2. Knowing what you want to accomplish (creative vs. corrective white balance). 

In this tutorial, I turn the white balance adjustment tool inside out and provide several examples of how to use it correctively (i.e. eliminating color casts) and creatively (i.e. enhancing the mood and atmosphere).

Not only will this knowledge save you save time, but you’ll enjoy the creative process more when you know (1) what you’re doing, and (2) why you’re doing it. This is why I create comprehensive tutorials like this instead of “quick tips” that barely scratch the surface.

The Darkroom coming early 2020

The Darkroom will be opening for enrollment soon.

I hope you’ve been enjoying the tutorials I’ve sent your way over the past few months…..a small sample of what you’ll find inside my new program for Lightroom and Photoshop that will be opening in early 2020. 

The Darkroom has been in development for over a year now, and I’m just about finished putting all of the pieces together. Since I want to give this final stage 100% of my attention, I won’t be writing again until the program is ready to go.

And in typical creativeRAW fashion, I’ll be celebrating with new (and free) tutorials as well…so that everyone can learn some new skills and enhance their craft. This program has grown from simple tutorials to an immersive creative journey in image processing, so I can’t wait to share more details with you soon.

If you’d like to be notified early when the program is ready to go, make sure to sign up for the waitlist below. Only those on the list will get early access to the program, as well as receive a special discount for this launch.

Steps for Smoother Brushwork in Lightroom and Photoshop

Table of Contents

0:53How Bit Depth Can Create Smoother Brushwork
6:44How to Use Hardness and Feathering Together
9:00Flow and Opacity to Taper Out Your Brushwork
11:54Layering Brushstrokes at Low Opacity for Seamless Transitions
16:48My Brushing Strategy for Dodging and Burning
19:21Additional Tips and Precautions with the Brush Tool

The Adjustment Brush

Table of Contents

0:05Lesson Overview and Brush Basics
3:42Quick Walkthrough of Applying the Adjustment Brush
8:47The Importance of the Brush Overlay
10:23Brush Feathering: When to Use Soft and Hard Brushstrokes
20:27Using Flow to Taper Your Adjustments
23:38How Density Controls Brush Transparency
27:02The Practical Use of Flow and Density
30:54Auto-Masking
38:35Refining Brushwork with the Eraser Tool
42:01Changing the Adjustment Brush Settings After Application
43:26Managing Multiple Adjustment Brush Applications
50:56Maintaining Straight Lines When Brushing
53:43Brush Presets
56:45Additional Tips
1:01:19Lesson Summary

The Brush Tool …

If you’ve done any kind of processing in Lightroom or Photoshop, you’ve most likely worked with the brush tool. It’s the foundation of dodging and burning, any kind of blending, and many other creative processing techniques.

With the brush tool, you can literally paint over the areas you want to change…without the guesswork and unwanted side effects of the brute-force global adjustments. The ability to tailor your processing to the content of your image will not only give you higher-quality results…but will save you a lot of time in the darkroom.

However, this incredible feature can be a little tricky to master since there are quite a few settings that control how your brush performs…

Brush size, flow, feather, density…they all work together to create specialized brush effects. And like any tool, if you don’t know how to use it properly…it’s pretty useless.

So for this “mini-lecture”, I’ve got something extra-special lined up…two video lessons that will teach you everything to know about (1) how the brush tool works, (2) how to get smooth and seamless brushstrokes, and (3) advanced-level tips for taking full advantage of all this incredible tool has to offer.

This lesson is a sample of what you’ll find in The Darkroom: A Lifetime Membership Program for Lightroom and Photoshop. Click here for more details.

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