Digital BW, The Print

Helene,

I use PS 7.1.  Don't use a background copy layer, just a plain, 
standard "new layer."  After you click new layer, the command box, or 
whatever it is called appears, which gives you a drop down for mode.  
After you select "soft light" a checkbox appears which asks if you 
want it to be a medium gray, or something to that effect.  I usually 
add this layer after a background copy layer which I set to one of a 
number of modes and opacitities depending on the shot.  I then move 
the new "burn - dodge" layer down one so that it is directly above 
the background.  

Steve


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, grdglass@a... 
wrote:
> Stephen,
> 
> Nice technique.  Where exactly does the the box pop up asking about 
medium 
> gray...in the background copy layer?  I'm using PS 7.01 and there 
isn't a box 
> pop up.
> 
> Helene
> 
> > I come to a similar result differently, by using a copy of the 
> > background layer after switching to 8 bit, often in soft light 
mode, 
> > and then erasing the parts of the layer that produces effects I 
do 
> > not want.  Also, rather than use the burn/dodge tool, I use a 
layer 
> > set to soft light and medium gray (a box pops up asking if you 
want 
> > to set it to medium gray after you choose soft light).  Using 
that 
> > layer, you can burn by setting the foreground color to black and 
> > using the brush tool and dodge by using white as the foreground 
> > color.  The advantage over the burn/dodge tool is flexibility as 
you 
> > have control over both the brush and opacity.  (The opacity 
control 
> > seems finer grained that that using the tool.)
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]