How to Use Dodge and Burn Techniques in Photography

Sometimes, even when you have a very good negative, it is necessary to make some adjustments when printing your photograph. If you have an area of your photograph that is too light, a technique known as burning needs to be applied. If you have a spot that is too dark in relation to the rest of the photograph, it needs to be reprinted using the dodging technique. It may take a few tries to get it right, but it is not overly difficult to master, and will greatly improve your photograph.

Instructions

1

Print a photograph with the correct settings for the majority of the photograph. You will need to fully process the print and dry it to ascertain how much dodging or burning will need to be done.

2

Create a test strip of exposures for the problem area. This is done the same way you would for any photograph. If your area is too light, start with the exposure used for the rest of the photograph, and then increase the exposure in increments of 1 second. For example, if your photos exposure is 20 seconds, create a test strip with exposures between 21 to 30 seconds. If the area is too dark, create a test strip using the reverse of the technique above. Start at 10 seconds and work up to 19. Process the test strip and dry it. Make note of the correct exposure time.

3

Burn the area of your print that is too light. You will need to use a piece of cardboard to cover the rest of your photograph from over exposure. First, expose the entirety of your print with the original exposure. You will be using the cardboard to block the light from the rest of the photograph. This is very easy if you are burning in the corner of the photograph, and more difficult if it is right in the middle. You may want to cut a hole in the cardboard relative to the size of the area that needs to be fixed. Your piece of cardboard should be larger than your print size.

4

Set your timer for the amount of time you need to add to correct the exposure. While your enlarger is on, you will need to agitate the cardboard slightly to prevent a sort of fade between the tones of the area you are burning and the rest of the photograph. This will prevent an obvious line from appearing on your print.

5

Dodge the area of your print that is too dark. You are essentially doing the reverse of burning. First you will expose the print for the amount of time that is correct for the problem area. Next, you will need to expose the rest of the print with the correct amount of time. If you have already exposed the print for 7 seconds, but you need a total of 20 seconds for the rest of the print, you need to expose it for another 13 seconds.

6

Set your timer for the amount of time you still need. Cut out a piece of cardboard big enough to cover the area you do not want to expose more. If the area is in the middle of the photograph, tape it to a piece of wire. As you expose the print, agitate the cardboard to prevent a line on your print.

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Sometimes, even when you have a very good negative, it is necessary to make some adjustments when printing your photograph. If you have an area of your photograph that is too light, a technique known as burning needs to be applied. If you have a spot that is too dark in relation to the rest of the photograph, it needs to be reprinted using the dodging technique. It may take a few tries to get it right, but it is not overly difficult to master, and will greatly improve your photograph.

Instructions

1

Print a photograph with the correct settings for the majority of the photograph. You will need to fully process the print and dry it to ascertain how much dodging or burning will need to be done.

2

Create a test strip of exposures for the problem area. This is done the same way you would for any photograph. If your area is too light, start with the exposure used for the rest of the photograph, and then increase the exposure in increments of 1 second. For example, if your photos exposure is 20 seconds, create a test strip with exposures between 21 to 30 seconds. If the area is too dark, create a test strip using the reverse of the technique above. Start at 10 seconds and work up to 19. Process the test strip and dry it. Make note of the correct exposure time.

3

Burn the area of your print that is too light. You will need to use a piece of cardboard to cover the rest of your photograph from over exposure. First, expose the entirety of your print with the original exposure. You will be using the cardboard to block the light from the rest of the photograph. This is very easy if you are burning in the corner of the photograph, and more difficult if it is right in the middle. You may want to cut a hole in the cardboard relative to the size of the area that needs to be fixed. Your piece of cardboard should be larger than your print size.

4

Set your timer for the amount of time you need to add to correct the exposure. While your enlarger is on, you will need to agitate the cardboard slightly to prevent a sort of fade between the tones of the area you are burning and the rest of the photograph. This will prevent an obvious line from appearing on your print.

5

Dodge the area of your print that is too dark. You are essentially doing the reverse of burning. First you will expose the print for the amount of time that is correct for the problem area. Next, you will need to expose the rest of the print with the correct amount of time.

Enhance your photography skill,The Top Secret Photography Techniques

. If you have already exposed the print for 7 seconds, but you need a total of 20 seconds for the rest of the print, you need to expose it for another 13 seconds.
6

Set your timer for the amount of time you still need. Cut out a piece of cardboard big enough to cover the area you do not want to expose more. If the area is in the middle of the photograph, tape it to a piece of wire. As you expose the print, agitate the cardboard to prevent a line on your print.

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