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ladychampagne
Participant
January 27, 2017
Question

How to change the flow in the Dodge & Burn tool?

  • January 27, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 4017 views

I have been trying for hours to figure out how to change the brush flow when using the Dodge & Burn tools. I'm trying to slowly lighten and darken areas of an image, but my brush stokes continually lighten or darken/apply more paint as I pass over an area, even though I don't lift up the mouse. People keep saying the way to fix this is to "change the flow" but they don't say how to do it. There's no option like there is in the Brush tool, and I've changed the Brush tool's flow, but it doesn't affect D&B's flow. Is there a way to change the flow in Dodge and Burn?

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1 reply

Nancy OShea
Community Expert
Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 27, 2017

Look at the top where it says Range and Exposure.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
    L
    ladychampagneAuthor
    Participant
    January 27, 2017

    Hi Nancy,

    Yes, I've been utilizing those options. My exposure is set quite low (5%), because I'm trying lighten/darken incrementally. I understand the low exposure is what's causing the issue, but tutorials and other internet sources have said changing the flow will help that not happen, ie. not layer on more paint unless I unclick then click again.

    Currently this is what's happening:

    Left: Exposure 100%, Right: Exposure 10%. One brush stroke, haven't unclicked.

    What I'm trying to do is get the left side's consistency, but lighter. Do you know a way to achieve that? (Maybe asking for a way to change the "flow" wasn't the right question?)

    Nancy OShea
    Community Expert
    Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 27, 2017

    Color Burn and Dodge tools are not very precise.  They are mainly for quicky touch ups.  I think you'll have better results with masks and adjustment layers.   But without seeing your image, it's all guesswork.

    Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
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