Adobe Photoshop Basics

Download this zip file for all the images you need to complete the exercises for Lesson 8. (Mac users can use Aladdin's free Stuffit Expander to extract the zip file.)

Exercise One - Dodge & Burn

Practice Image: dodgeburn.jpg

Before

After:

Practice using the dodge and burn tools to minimize the shadows on this image. You can also use the burn tool to tone down the glare on the blonde hair. Not too much, though! Remember, you don't want to remove the light and shadow completely... just enough to minimize the extremes a bit. I found the triangle-shaped glare on her right cheek distracting, so I concentrated my efforts on minimizing that and the dark shadows under her eyes.

Exercise Two - Curves and Sponge Tool

Practice Image: washedout.jpg

Before

After:

In this image the boy on the right looks like his momma used cheap detergent because his jacket is dull and washed out. In fact, the entire image looks a little washed out to me, so let's first take a detour into the curves dialog box and darken up the midtones a bit. (I know we haven't reviewed curves yet, so for now, just follow my instructions and don't worry about why you're doing it. It will help you get comfortable in the dialog box without the stress of learning how it works just yet. We'll discuss curves in more detail in a future lesson.)

Go to Image > Adjust > Curves and grab the middle point of the diagonal line and drag it slightly down and to the right. Just enough to give the line a slight curve.

This darkens the midtones while preserving the full tonal range of the image.

Now I want to darken up some of the darker tones too, so click on the lower left section of the curve and move it down ever so slightly. Just enough to give the curve a bit more of a J shape.

See my screen shot to see how your curve should look.

When you get the curve adjusted, click ok. Already it is a big improvement. But kids clothes should be bright and colorful, so let's use the sponge tool to brighten up the jacket a bit.

Set the sponge tool to saturate and pressure of 40%.

Paint over the jacket of the boy on the right. Be sure to catch the yellow sleeve that's peeking out from behind the ear of the other boy.

You can also pop over to the other boy and zap the colorful parts of his clothes with the sponge tool too. Denim is supposed to be faded so we can leave that area alone.

Now take a snapshot and use the history palette to toggle the before and after snapshots back and forth. What a difference... You're on the way to becoming a master retoucher!

Now on to the next challenge...

Next > Exercise Three