Why use a Grey Layer in Photoshop?

Learn How I use a Grey Layer using the Brush Tool for Dodging and Burning in Photoshop. This technique allows you to "Sculpt Light and Shade " in your Images!
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[@moniqueteijgeman6410]

Finally! A great tutorial regarding Dodge & Burn without annoying music or sound effects or screaming. Correct speed of speech. A good and profound explantion I was looking form quite some time. Subscribed. Thank you.

[@sandradimagery]

Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm not a fan of what I call "rah rah tutorials". I used to be an Adult Educator back in the day. Glad you enjoyed it and thank you for subscribing.

[@marinrealestatephotography]

Thanks for the tutorial. I always avoided using the dodge and burn tools, so I feel using this technique is going to be beneficial to my workflow. Thanks again.

[@sandradimagery]

There are many ways to sculpt light , this way I think is a softer technique, particularly for my style.

[@IanBrowne-x6n]

D&B done like Sanda showed is far better than the built in dodge and burn tools . I have a D&B layer in a "start" macro/action/preset (with a mask) so it's always there. As explained in video; it's a slow, soft and stead tool for best results

[@pamgarven5249]

This was a great tutorial Sandra. Thank you. I will certainly start doing my dodging and burning this way in future 😊

[@sandradimagery]

You're so welcome!

[@goranalgers1909]

Very good video, clear and focused on the subject. Thank you!

[@sandradimagery]

Thank you for watching I don't tend to waffle I get right into it :)

[@IanBrowne-x6n]

Thank you, and thank you more for teaching one of the oldest tools used in the original darkrooms ; dodge and burn . The "new" digital editing tools seem to get more attention when D&B can do so much so gently .
Yes, I'm one of the old converted who learnt basic D&B in a darkroom 😊.
Little bits your subscribers may find useful . You are welcome to use them also ; after all someone taught me .
I do need to revisit your actual grey layer that I stopped using , and I still use just the one D&B layer which is so (maybe too) easy ----- yep; lazy too.
I take the old B&W D&B a bit further by using colours instead of white and black. This is a great way too add slight patches of colour to a black and white image , or a little extra colour to a dull colour image.
D&B can add some saturation to some colours ; however painting in on another desaturated layer can reduce it . Maybe you know a better way .

[@sandradimagery]

Your welcome :) I learnt this when I was processing landscapes, and still use it for my digital art, when I need to add a gentle light to my art.

[@sbl2051]

Thank you for this video.

[@sandradimagery]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching 😊

[@001wwx]

Very helpful, thank you💯

[@sandradimagery]

No problem 👍

[@joelwexler]

I like what you're doing, it's very interesting. The gray layer is nice, but I like doing this kind of thing with the new lightroom masks.

[@sandradimagery]

Thanks for watching 😊there are many ways to sculpt light I tend to do all my work in PS, LR has some great tools as well.

[@IanBrowne-x6n]

LOL; what "new lightroom masks"? I still use Lr5! However the adjustment brush is my best friend ;) .

[@joelwexler]

@@IanBrowne-x6n It's not just Lightroom. All the great new programs (Luminar, On1, DxO, Topaz) make it easy to mask based on luminance, color, subject and objects. It'll change your photographic life.

[@caneestudio]

Is there a RUclips by you on colour grading prior to sculpting the light.

[@sandradimagery]

Hi there is a video on making colour choices, and in the other videos I share some of my colour grading techniques. Any questions ask away 😊

[@efhurtado]

Thank you for sharing your experience; I will starting using your method. Out of curiosity, if I add a coloring action on top, would that affect that grey layer(s)?

[@sandradimagery]

Yes you can! I usually do a stamp visible layer (CTRL ALT SHIFT E)
first then apply a colour grading action.

[@IanBrowne-x6n]

I just added comment about using colour instead of a white or black brush ;)

[@KenToney]

Makes no difference if you use a grey layer or blank layer. Both on soft light yields same. On blank layer you can use eraser, on grey layer you would need to use 50% grey brush to use eraser.

[@yoily_weinberger]

How is a gray layer different from using a mask on the image layer?

[@sandradimagery]

There are many ways of sculpting light, when you mention a mask are you referring to using an Adjustment Layer eg Levels, Curves and using a mask to do selective adjustment? I use a combination of techniques when adding light, this way is a quick non destructive way to add light.

[@yoily_weinberger]

Is it possible to paint a light cast that has more texture to it? For some reason, I find that even when professionals paint light casts in Photoshop, the texture doesn't look realistic enough.

[@sandradimagery]

@@yoily_weinbergerI’ve sometimes added noise to an area for more texture

[@yoily_weinberger]

@@sandradimagery I miss spoke, my question was about realism, not texture specifically.

[@sandradimagery]

@@yoily_weinberger Ok now I understand, you can use this technique by sampling a colour in your image or choose a colour (such has light yellow, orange etc) that suits your image. I will use different techniques for brushing it light, depending on image colours and tones.