Flat photos often look lifeless because light and shadow barely stand out from one another. This is exactly where the Dodge and Burn tool in GIMP comes in. With it, you selectively brighten some areas and darken others, so that a subject looks noticeably more three-dimensional. This tutorial is based on the video tutorial by Marco Kolditz. You will not only learn the basic functions, but above all how to use the tool non-destructively, so that your original image remains unchanged.
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Key Takeaways
- You can access the Dodge and Burn tool via the icon in the toolbar or with the keyboard shortcut Shift + D.
- Dodging brightens areas, burning darkens them. You switch between the two modes by holding down the Ctrl key.
- With the "Range" option, you define whether shadows, midtones, or highlights are affected. The "Exposure" option determines the strength.
- If you work directly on the photo layer, it is destructive. After saving, the changes can hardly be undone.
- A medium-gray layer in "Soft Light" mode enables non-destructive editing that you can adjust or discard at any time.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Find the Tool and Understand the Options
You will find the Dodge and Burn tool in the toolbar, but you can also call it up directly with Shift + D. In the options panel below the toolbar, you will notice similarities to the Paintbrush tool, for example in the brush size and the brush settings. In addition, the Dodge tool adds two crucial options: "Range" and "Exposure". Before you start, it is worth watching the video on the Paintbrush tool as well as the introductory video on layer modes, since both form the foundation for the following steps.
Step 2: Set Range and Exposure Correctly
With the "Range" option, you decide which tonal values the tool changes. You can select the shadows, meaning the dark areas, the midtones between light and dark, or the highlights, meaning the brightest areas. The "Exposure" option works similarly to opacity with the brush: the higher the percentage, the stronger each stroke is. For the example photo, a brush size of about 43 pixels has proven effective. However, always adjust it to the size and structure of your subject.
Step 3: Edit the Photo Directly and Recognize the Consequences
In the example, the photo is a single layer in the Layers panel. Activate the tool, set the type to "Dodge," and choose the highlights. Then, holding down the left mouse button, you move over the bright areas, for example over the shoe. With a pen and a graphics tablet, this feels even more natural. The result looks higher in contrast, but you are working directly on the photo layer. If you save the image and open it again later, the changes can no longer be undone. Pressing Ctrl + Z multiple times only works within the current session. Therefore, always keep a copy of the original.
Step 4: Switch Between Dodge and Burn
To darken areas, you do not first need another tool. You click on Burn in the options or hold down the Ctrl key while painting. For "Range," choose, for example, the midtones and activate Burn with Ctrl. This allows you to darken the shadows on the shoe further. Here, too, the same applies: the changes are made destructively on the photo. Therefore, reset the editing before you continue with the non-destructive method.
Step 5: Create a Medium-Gray Layer as a Carrier Layer
First undo the destructive changes. Then create a new layer above the photo layer and give it a meaningful name, for example "Medium Gray". Then you fill it with a medium gray. To do this, choose the Fill tool and set the foreground color to a brightness value of 50. Confirm with "OK" and click once in the image to fill the layer. Black as the background color plays no role in this step, as long as the foreground color is set correctly.
Step 6: Set the Layer Mode to "Soft Light"
Now change the mode of the gray layer to "Soft Light". The gray immediately disappears, and the photo underneath becomes visible again. The reason: in this mode, a medium brightness remains invisible, while lighter and darker tones are blended with the image underneath. This way you can paint on the layer without altering the photo itself.
Step 7: Selectively lighten on the gray layer
Select the Dodge tool again and set the midtones under "Range". Reduce the exposure to about 20 percent so that the effect stays subtle. Now paint over the areas that are already bright, for example the highlights on the shoe. Vary the brush size and also work on the sole or the seams. With individual strokes, the result often looks unspectacular. Only when comparing it with the original does the effect become clearly visible.
Step 8: Deepen shadows with the Burn tool
For the Burn tool, hold down the Ctrl key and work over the dark areas of the subject. Reduce the brush size for fine details and increase it for large, flat shadows. Switch between dodging and burning by releasing the Ctrl key or pressing it again. Be careful not to overdo it. Often a few subtle strokes are enough to give the image more contrast and depth.
Step 9: Check the result and keep the editing flexible
Hide the gray layer using the eye icon and compare the result with the original. If you then set the layer to "Normal" mode, you can see all the areas you have edited. Mid-gray areas remain transparent in "Soft Light" mode. If you don't like the look, you can hide the layer or drag it to the trash. The original image remains completely intact.
Summary – GIMP Dodge and Burn: Making images more three-dimensional non-destructively
With the Dodge and Burn tools, you can selectively strengthen contrasts in individual areas of an image and thereby increase the three-dimensionality of a subject. If you work directly on the photo, the changes are permanent. It is much more flexible to use a mid-gray layer in "Soft Light" mode, because then you only edit this layer and can adjust or remove it at any time. The tool is particularly suitable for modeling objects and in portrait photography, where you can create exciting image looks with just a few strokes.
FAQ
How does the Dodge tool differ from the brush?It additionally offers the options Range and Exposure, with which you can selectively influence shadows, midtones, or highlights.
What fill does the layer need for the non-destructive method?You need a mid-gray fill with a brightness value of 50, which remains invisible in "Soft Light" mode.
Why shouldn't I work directly on the photo?After saving, the changes cannot be undone, unless you still have the original image.
How do I switch between dodging and burning?You click the desired mode in the tool options or hold down the Ctrl key.
Can I still correct the editing later?Yes, you can hide the gray layer, adjust it, or drag it to the trash without changing the original image.
