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Thanks Axxo, Dodge & Burn techniques are brought up quite often here. What technique do you prefer?
Great! Thanks.
I never use the native Dodge & Burn Tools. In order to maintain accurate colors, I prefer using two Curves adjustment layers, one on the dark side and one on the light side and both with hide all layer masks. Then I use the Brush Tool in conjunction with the CAL masks to create the Dodge & Burn. This method creates much better results!
I'm completely self taught. Two things I always tell folks is that if you ever plan on being efficient with Photoshop, you need to learn the Pen Tool and layer/vector masks! Blending modes and alpha masking (for selections) would be a close second.
Masks are a bit confusing at first, but after you have that "ah hah" moment, you will use them every chance you can and wonder how you could have ever not understood them!
Take a look at these....
Channel Selection:
http://planetphotoshop.com/masking-with-channels-2.html
http://planetphotoshop.com/using-channels-to-make-better-selections-in-adobe-photoshop.html
http://phlearn.com/separate-parts-of-your-image-with-photoshop-channels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvBAvZyqPmU
edit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsXbDLglasA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-aizjdm5Us
Calculations:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqg4m2q2eek