Using the Dodge tool and the Burn tool (Photoshop)
Used to lighten or darken areas of the image, the Dodge tool and the Burn tools are based on a traditional photographer's technique for regulating exposure on specific areas of a print. Photographers hold back light to lighten an area on the print (dodging) or increase the exposure to darken areas on a print (burning).
To use the Dodge tool or the Burn tool:
- Select the Dodge tool
or the Burn tool 
. - Choose a brush tip and set brush options in the options bar (see Working with brushes).
- In the options bar, select one of the following:
- Midtones to change the middle range of grays
- Shadows to change the dark areas
- Highlights to change the light areas
- Specify the exposure for the Dodge tool or the Burn tool. (See Specifying opacity, flow, strength, or exposure.)
- (Photoshop) Click the airbrush button
to use the brush as an airbrush. Alternately, select the Airbrush option in the Brushes palette. (See Creating airbrush effects (Photoshop).) - Drag over the part of the image you want to lighten or darken.