Dodge Tool (O)

The Dodge, Burn, and Sponge tools are similar to conventional darkroom tools. You use a Dodge tool to stop the light from reaching the sensitised paper and then that part of the image will be lighter. The Burn tool has the opposite effect, you allow extra light to reach the paper which darkens areas of the image. The sponge applies extra or concentrated chemicals to selected areas, this intensifies the effect. If you have any experience in the darkroom then these tools will be second nature. Photoshop simulates the tools very accurately, although you should exercise care when using the tools, to avoid your images looking unnatural.

The Dodge Tool

Use this tool to lighten dark areas, choose Shadows, Midtones or Highlights and apply an exposure value. Choose an appropriate size brush and paint over the areas to be lightened - be careful not to over apply the strokes otherwise the brushed image area will start to wash out. The default setting is 50%, try a lower value with a soft edged brush for a subtle effect. On the sample picture below, the steam has been lightened.

The Burn Tool

Similar in operation as the Dodge tool, but this time the image areas are darkened. Apply short strokes rather than scrubbing, this way you can apply an undo (Ctrl+Z). Here's a darkroom trick, darken the edges and corners of an image, this makes the central part stand out and it works on digital pictures too.

The Sponge Tool

This has two options, Saturate and Desaturate. Brush over an area to intensify the colours or reduce them. The strength of both is determined by the flow value.

All three tools benefit from using a pressure sensitive tablet (if you haven't got one then put it on your list of must-haves). The Wacom Intuos range is excellent.

The original shot

All three tools were used here; the Dodge tool was used for the steam, the Burn tool was used on the image edges, and the Sponge tool was used on the red and green areas of the train.